Historical Oddities Of Cincinnati, Ohio

Join me for a day of exploring the historical oddities of Cincinnati, Ohio. Today we visit the Betts House, Lytle Park, historic Ft. Washington, the Mercantile Library, and the Dunlap Café!
Links:
www.DraytonCallison.com
www.WorldsGreatestKiting.com
You can support Dray’s World at / draysworld
Ohio Merchantile Library - mercantilelibrary.com/
The Betts House - www.atlasobscura.com/places/t...
#Cincinnati #Reds #MerchantileLibrary #OhioMercantileLibrary #AbeLincolnStatue #AbeLincoln #OhioHistory #BettsHouse #ExploreOhio #FtWashington

[@bobm97]

The doors that you mentioned are the doors for the coal chutes. I've rehabbed several old homes in the Cincinnati area and they all had metal doors to the coal bins in the basement. I'm old enough to remember the coal truck backing up into the front yard and sending loads of coal into our basement. The coal dust would hang in the air for a day after the coal truck came. I remember my Dad going down into the basement and shoveling coal into the furnace in the middle of the night in winter to heat the house back up.

[@DraysWorld]

The coal shoots seemed so far away from the house I wondered if that is what they were for or for another purpose.

[@bobm97]

@@DraysWorld Prior to 1890, most houses had separate coal fireplaces in each of the major rooms in the house. Coal was delivered by horse drawn wagon and long metal chutes were set up to deliver coal from the street to the basement. When you needed to heat up a room, you carried coal up from the basement and lit a fire in the fireplace in the room. One of the rehabs that I did was an 1848 Italianate mansion that had 22 coal fireplaces. We converted a two of them to gas fired and closed up the rest. Central heat with coal burning furnaces ("octopus furnaces") were in every home until the late 1940's when gas forced air became the standard. The very wealthy had hot water heating systems with radiators in each room. The area where I am living now, Wallace Woods, was the millionaires row of Cincinnati in the early 1900's. The large houses along Wallace Ave. were made possible because of the hot water heating systems that could heat every room in the house!

[@Alexandre.Hamann]

very interesting history!.

[@MegaJune08]

Reading your comments gave me a flashback!

[@dingodonkey]

Can confirm, these are for coal delivery. Common at least in older Cincinnati buildings, but I have no idea how universal this was.

[@darylturcott]

I love the architecture and history in Cincinnati.

[@user-np7gk2jj8i]

The union terminal museum center would be a nice place to visit in Cincinnati. The rotunda is a perfect parabola so you can whisper at one drinking fountain and heard at the other. It is also the inspiration for the Justice League biilding in the comic book

[@kskssxoxskskss2189]

The Mercantile Library still hosts and funds scholars, including my niece a few years ago.

[@anndantoni584]

My guess is that those doors opened to a coal shute into the houses basement. Would love to see the old books. Yes i remember library sign out cards.

[@kitebum]

That was going to be my guess as well. I'm sure those homes were coal heated when they were built

[@DraysWorld]

That would make sense however the front door of each of these homes is about 20 feet from the sidewalk where the door stands. That would be a long coal shoot.

[@kitebum]

After further investigation I'm almost certain that's a coal chute. Sounds like most all of them are sealed these days to prevent access. Doesn't matter how long it is if it goes downhill lol

[@anndantoni584]

@@kitebum 👍

[@westelaudio943]

Tartaria comments in 3... 2... 1...

[@Crosses3]

My husband worked downtown and belonged to the mercantile library. He loved it there.

[@DraysWorld]

It’s a very unique part of your city!

[@quad_kite_flyer]

At 6:15 you almost got it right. It's ebru, a type of paper marbling, in this case for endpapers of the book.

[@DraysWorld]

Thanks! I love that art

[@grouchogreen572]

The doors in the front walls of the homes on Dayton Street (?) are for transporting ash cans to the curb for pick up. Furnaces were coal filed. Some doors appear to be coal shut covers.

[@UberBoss231]

2:40 “Address number 420… looks like an old church or something” Immediately the best part

[@lisaburns4445]

If you are ever back in Cincinnati check out American Legacy Tours. A couple other amazing historical sights are Music Hall, and Union Terminal. Would love to hear any history you find on them. Thanks for sharing!

[@sortoftubular]

To get to 12th floor of the Mercantile Library, don't use the hallway stairs. Use the smaller set of stairs inside the 11th floor library near the librarians to get to the 12th floor library room. This might be a security measure to keep you in view of the librarians if you bring a book down.

[@tommyt6029]

There's even older books at the University of Cincinnati's archival library, Langsam Library. Books in all kinds of languages dating from early 1700s. The pages practically fall apart as you turn them.

[@DraysWorld]

I’ve got to see this next time I’m there

[@andybaker162]

I had a good friend who lived in that limestone townhouse next door to the Betts! And Mitch used to live just a block away from there! How cool that its on your radar! Small world.

[@DraysWorld]

Can you find out from your friend that lived there what those openings are on the sidewalk in front of each of the houses on the street?

[@davidhuber7552]

According to one source I've encountered, Lincoln's son Robert Lincoln was present at the unveiling of the Lytle Park Lincoln statue in 1917.

[@G2B1983]

Such doors or similar doors flat in sidewalks were used for a number of things...coal, ice, access ways for merchandise and supplies for stores in downtown areas. As a kid in the 60s and 70s it was pretty common to see trucks unloading shipments via such doors to the stores and businesses downtown.

[@shanestines4854]

The Mercantile Library building is currently under renovations. Office space and condos.

[@RutabegaNG]

There are a lot of interesting buildings and sites downtown. There are also a lot around town. A person could lose a lot of time just wandering around from place to place.

[@DraysWorld]

Agreed. Can’t wait to make it back for some more wandering around.

[@drock5404]

Lie-til park

[@DraysWorld]

Thank you.

[@melissaj1927]

I worked in the Mercantile Library building for years.

[@michaelshearer3559]

The old Guilford building (originally a school I believe) is one of my favorites. Beautiful architecture, details, and verandas. So much more to see, hope you come back.

[@DraysWorld]

I’ll be back.

[@carmenpoole6299]

Ty so much! I'm in swfl now but Cincinnati is my home town.. born and raised. I love Florida but I can't wait to go home. Ty for your wonderful tour.. God bless

[@jakepyrett1715]

That statue is one of the only of Abe shaven

[@visasmom]

He gave a speech there at one time.

[@benjamindixon4825]

Translucent glass is for natural sun light. Old library in home town same.

[@lisaburns4445]

This may sound odd, but I bet the smell in the library is wonderful! Also, living close to Cincinnati I enjoy the history you are sharing!

[@nancymcgee4776]

I love the smell of books to!

[@joesphbest3120]

There for COAL to heat the house. Thats what the doors are for. I grew up in that area a long time ago.

[@kellydiver]

I’m a member of the Merc. They’re actually remodeling right now - you couldn’t visit the main floor if you visited today. But it’s gonna be killer when it’s finished!

[@abbedelehanty1665]

Nice library … how neat ! Welcome back to Ohio !

[@williambechmann6547]

Study William Haines Lytle and his family. Lytle was a lawyer, politician and U.S. Army general. He was shot and killed on September 20, 1862 at the Battle of Chickamauga. This battlefield is located at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. Just south of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Lytle is buried at our famous Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati. Nice video!

[@aliciacarr9899]

Very cool to see what was the walking part of my daily commute for a while. I worked for the company that owns the Guilford now, Western & Southern, who are headquartered across the street. They did a lot of renovations inside so its pretty modern but they kept some of the historical elements. Rumor has it the building it shares the alley with was an old jail and you can see where they closed off the entrances that were foenthe horse ans carriages. Not sure of the validity of such claims but that was the talk around the office. I appreciate you highlighting some of the lesser documented areas in Cincinnati. Sometimes living and working some place for so long you kind of forget some of the cool historic tidbits.

[@DraysWorld]

I appreciate you watching and thank you for your comment. I love the city!

[@goodcitizen3638]

Not "little park" in Cincinnati speak but Lytle park with a long i pronunciation as in "I want to lie down."

[@alfredfranchini2659]

Thank you for sharing, this is great!

[@user-mn5du9te4j]

Love how Hes being Nosy, and just going and walking where ever he wants.....lmao

[@DraysWorld]

I am pretty nosy come to think of it. Thanks for watching!

[@JayYoung-ro3vu]

Yeah, for West Jefferson! A village at the edge of Columbus suburban sprawl and doing well at it.

[@travisgal]

Very cool. I'll be near Cincinnati in a week but won't have time to go into town! Next time!

[@daverotroff6873]

The park is pronounced like the Y is a long I not like Little. Like the tunnel and the high rise building.

[@paulfischeruncleyips]

Wow, places I have never visited. I didn't even know about the oldest house in Ohio. I rarely go downtown anymore preferring to go places in the suburbs and beyond. I do know where Fort Washington and Lytle Park are located.

[@LCStL1]

Some 35 years ago, in downton looking at the Christmas displays, I saw a bronze marker commemorating the birth of the 1st Anglo-American child in the region. I wonder if it is still on the storefront . . .

[@thisisdez]

Oh, I see, you don’t live in Cincy. Wonderful video! Very fun

[@andrewloughnane6116]

you missed the spiral staircase at the mercantile library. next time check it out!

[@DraysWorld]

Will do

[@kimcircagirl474]

Thank you so much! Drays world

[@jimbarnett2735]

I so want to do a history tour with you someday! I love these!!

[@DraysWorld]

Thanks Jim!

[@wadecoppage5583]

Lytle Park (pronounced lie-tuhl) is fenced off and a construction site now. I wonder where they moved Abe...

[@DraysWorld]

I’ll have to track him down when I visit next

[@RutabegaNG]

There's the comment I was looking for. "Little" park was bugging me.

[@user-xo6pr6zw7l]

Abe will still be in Lytle Park, just in a different position. There will be a fountain where the statue was placed.

[@DraysWorld]

Cool.

[@MegaJune08]

Great job !

[@DraysWorld]

Thanks for watching

[@2Goiz_1ShanDA]

I'm sure you've heard it by now but those little doors under the houses are coal shoots my brother. So yes Secret passageway

[@tdpay9015]

I thought maybe the Mercantile Library lease might be a Guinness World Record, but the GWR site says: "There is a lease concerning a plot for a sewage tank adjoining Columb Barracks, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, Republic of Ireland, which was signed on 3 Dec 1868 for 10 million years."

[@DraysWorld]

Woah. Very interesting, as I’m in Ireland currently. Thanks for letting me in on this information! If I find myself near this place, I’m definitely including this in a video.

[@kimcircagirl474]

totally awesome library!

[@user-xo6pr6zw7l]

The Guilford Building was originally a public school and opened in 1914, not 1952 (think about it, does that building look like 1950s architecture to you?). It is surprising that you think a book dating to the 1800s is old. I once worked as a student assistant at the University of Cincinnati library and they have books dating back to at least the 1500s and possibly older than that.

[@swisschalet1658]

loved it

[@kimcircagirl474]

beautiful!

[@Sgt_MoDog_USMC]

Very cool

[@kimcircagirl474]

adore the West i so want bd there visit ,"5" min ago😄

[@christophermiller3031]

@2:00 haha hope you can see well to be able to read that sign past the fence. I dunno... just funny to me... cuz I guess our historic signs in Canada, would never be behind a fence like that.

[@robertblake3360]

Pretty cool place

[@kimcircagirl474]

another video please! 😄😁🙌

[@Roadtripmik]

They demolished lots of old buildings (1950s-1980s) it was considered bad if the homes are old even if they beautiful

[@ronaldgundrum2174]

You have to try the Cincinnati Gin just came out Reson.

[@DraysWorld]

Will do

[@daviddoran3164]

coal shut we. had them in Mt Adams where I grew up.

[@Alexandre.Hamann]

Very nice and interesting video!! I got interested to this region due the strong German immigration.Greetings from Brazil

[@DraysWorld]

Greetings!

[@gpteesapparel4804]

I Grew Up On That Street 415 Clark

[@gregoryreed4866]

I’m sick a fan of historical homes and buildings Great video ! Plus, it was made even better by how smoking hot you are !!

[@melissaisbel409]

The doors are coal storage

[@stephenbyrd8295]

Not sure how or why but I know you from somewhere and not from youtube. Just cant remember how? anywho, Cool vlogs!!

[@DraysWorld]

It’s a good possibility with crossed paths somewhere down the road. Thanks for watching!

[@kimcircagirl474]

Could you do an over-the-rhine video pleassss

[@michaelg1060]

It's Lytle Park is pronounced "LIE-TEL". Great video!!

[@DraysWorld]

Thank you!

[@michaelg1060]

@@DraysWorld Very welcome, my friend. I drove cab in Cincy when the hoods were ominous...I don't think there is a place I haven't been, A street I haven't had a fare on! I miss it. But I wouldn't want to do it today. Uber and Lyft ruined it. And the "Taxi Companies" are really only car leasing companies now, only with a meter on it. I paid 45 bucks a night shift, used 15-17 dollars in gas...never on a weekday went home with less than 150...Fri and Sat no les than 250-400. Those days are long gone. Too many squirrels and not enough acorns. Keep up the great work!!

[@burntwic1]

Coal delivery doors?

[@Michael-fl1tm]

Behind those doors is where they kept the slave's

[@thisisdez]

Will I see you at the fall forum today?

[@DraysWorld]

I’ll be there in spirit. Thanks for watching!

[@sheilawiner6848]

Coal bins ?

[@HugoTaboada-vh8us]

If you see old Louisville neighborhood, you'll drive crazy, it's way nicer than this

[@k.z.923]

Yes they are for coal when thats how they heated those big houses.!

[@gooberclown]

Those are coal chutes.

[@pointuout2020]

What about the old Cincinnati Elks Lodge building downtown?

[@michaelmcginsie2600]

Those metal opening were most likely used for delivering coal to residents. They have those here in Chicago as well.

[@DraysWorld]

They say it’s for coal delivery

[@seanmertens3049]

Doors are coal shoot. Nice Video

[@DraysWorld]

Thank you!

[@kellydiver]

Honest Abe’s son didn’t like that statue - AT ALL. He thought it made his father look grotesque.

[@rotceridjc]

That’s right those doors are for loading coal.

[@DraysWorld]

They all seemed so far away from the house on the sidewalk, It made me wonder.

[@danieloblinger1199]

It would be nice to see more pictures of what you’re talking about and less pictures of you talking about it.

[@RonnieDarko111]

@@danieloblinger1199 couldn’t agree more

[@ccgsales]

@10:35 "LIE-TUL" NOT "little" PARK!!! Man, all these 'discovering Cincinnati' videos on YT and people STILL can't pronounce the names correctly! Why don't you just do a tour of "Cincinnatuh" while you're at it. I bet all these 'discovering' or 'hidden gems' videos are from people not originally from Cincinnati.

[@DraysWorld]

Thanks for the input. I’m not from the city but I sure do love exploring Cincinnatuh when I’m near by.

[@Level_No_Curve]

These buildings are not from our civilization

[@DraysWorld]

?