MOUNT VERNON—The City of Mount Vernon has a history of which to be proud. This history has been made by those born here and those residents who were key in growing the city or drawing attention to it due to their accomplishments.
The city also has unique architectural buildings that tell our city’s story over the last two centuries. Residents proudly claim Lecky Harper, Dan Emmett, Charles & Elias Cooper, Henry B. Curtis, Doctors Jayne Payne & Ellamae Simmons, Paul Lynd, and James Buchwald. These are just a few people who made significant contributions locally and worldwide.
In 1965, Mount Vernon was designated as an “All American City” by Look Magazine, and in 1994 was named “Ohio’s Most Livable Community” by Ohio Magazine.
Mount Vernon is known for the Woodward Opera House, the oldest opera house in the United States. The city has three train stations, quite a few Sears Homes, and one of the few remaining Lustron Homes at 6 W. Lamartine St.
The city has designated historic districts within the city limits featuring various architectural types from building styles over the last 200 years. Unfortunately, Mount Vernon has allowed many of its historical buildings to be torn down to make way for parking lots:
•The Old Knox County Jail built in 1913
•First Baptist Church on East High Street
•Henry B. Curtis office building at 100 N. Main St.
•Dr. Matthew Thompson Home at 108 N. Main St.
•Wilda Worley Gothic Revival house on Chestnut Street
•James Tiegh home on the corner of Gay and East Vine streets
All of these succumbed to this fate.
Preserving a city’s identity
The BB Williams Maplehurst Estate was also torn down to make way for condominiums. The Kresge Building was torn down after a fire to make the dog fountain, and the Ringwalts building (actually three buildings) was torn down to expand First Knox National Bank and create a parking lot.
There are plans to tear down all the historic buildings on one city block of Public Square to build a new courthouse and expand City Hall. One of those buildings slated to be demolished is the last known HB Curtis building downtown, and the stone Keystone arches above the windows have his initials.
Just as concerning is that Mount Vernon is at risk of losing the Curtis Mansion, which sits on Round Hill, due to its deteriorating condition.
Preserving architectural buildings is important to the city’s identity, heritage, and character. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis once said, “Is it not cruel to let our city die by degrees, stripped of all her proud monuments, until there will be nothing left of all her history and beauty to inspire our children?”
Old buildings are reminders of a city’s culture and heritage. Losing these architectural structures lessens a city’s charm and uniqueness. Once they are lost, they cannot be reclaimed.
Questers #159 is an organization dedicated to preserving Mount Vernon’s history and architecture. Anyone interested in learning more about the organization or how to start a local chapter can contact the group at mountvernonquesters@gmail.com.