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!

UPDATE: Lytle is pronounced with a long I & the doors were coal shoots.

Links:

#Cincinnati #Reds #MerchantileLibrary #OhioMercantileLibrary #AbeLincolnStatue #AbeLincoln #OhioHistory #BettsHouse #ExploreOhio #FtWashington

[bobm]

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.

[goodcitizen]

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

[ColerainCincy]

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

[darylturcott]

I love the architecture and history in Cincinnati.

[UberBoss]

2:40

“Address number 420… looks like an old church or something”

Immediately the best part

[anndantoni]

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.

[kskssxoxskskss]

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

[grouchogreen]

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.

[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.

[lisaburns]

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.

[Rutabega_NG]

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.

[tommyt]

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.

[michaelshearer]

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.

[benjamindixon]

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

[andybaker]

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.

[carmenpoole]

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

[lisaburns]

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!

[abbedelehanty]

Nice library … how neat ! Welcome back to Ohio !

[travisgal]

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