Ohio Historic Preservation Office
OHIO HISTORIC INVENTORY
567 E. Hudson St.
Columbus, OH 43211
614/298-2000
RPR Number:
4. Present Name(s)
LOR-02071-21
2. County
rental property
5. Historic or Other Name(s)
Lorain
Cowdery-Mitro House
35. Plan Shape
Rectangular
20. Contractor or Builder
36. Changes associated with 17/17b Dates:
6a. Lot, Section or VMD Number
21. Building Type or Plan
Gabled Ell
22. Original Use, if apparent
Single Dwelling
17. Original/Most significant construct
900086109036
7. City or Village
17b. Some alteration
39. Endangered?
By What?
24. Ownership
Private
25. Owner's Name & Address, if known
10. Classification: Building
11. On National Register? NO
V P K Ltd.
653 Beech St.
Oberlin, OH 44074
26. Property Acreage
27. Other Surveys
13. Part of Established Hist. Dist? NO
15. Other Designation (NR or Local)
16. Thematic Associations:
RELIGION: ECCLESIASTICAL GROUP
PRIVATE/College
MANUFACTURING/INDUSTRIAL
17. Date(s) or Period
17b. Alteration Date(s)
Unknown
ca. 1894
18. Style Class and Design
No academic style - Vernacular
Element
Queen Anne
18a. Style of Addition or Elements(s)
19. Architect or Engineer
40. Chimney Placement
Off center within ridgeline
unknown
41. Distance from & Frontage on Road
25'
51. Condition of Property:
Good/Fair
52. Historic Outbuildings & Dependencies
Structure Type
28. No. of Stories
Two story
29. Basement? Yes
30. Foundation Material
Stone bearing
31. Wall Construction
Balloon/western/platform frame
32. Roof Type
Cross gable
Roof Material
Asphalt shingle
33. No. of Bays 3
NO
Date
Associated Activity
Side Bays
34. Exterior Wall Material(s)
3
53. Affiliated Inventory Numbers
Historic (OHI)
Aluminum or vinyl siding
Archaeological (OAI)
42. Further Description of Important Interior and Exterior Features (Continued on Reverse if Necessary)
This vernacular, gabled ell-plan house has a protruding gabled section at the left side of the facade, which faces west. Within this gabled
section, the first story has a large, 1/1 double hung window whose upper sash is smaller than its lower sash. Above this window, an
asphalt-shingled hood accentuates the window; the hood has fairly simple bracket supports whose only adornment is to have a slight,
outward jog where the bracket meets the wall of the house. The second story has two 1/1 double hung windows. The attic gable has a
triangular, vent. To the right of the gabled section, a small corner porch displays historic elements below the roofline in the small, wood
balusters that border the lower edge of the porch roof and squares at each corner have a decorative 'X' cut out of them. The porch
supports also appear to be historic. Concrete steps lead up to the wood floor of the porch. The steps have a metal railing. Within the
porch, the main entry door has been replaced. The south elevation has a gabled section at the center and two 1/1 double hung windows at
the first story. The second story has a triplet of windows. A triangular vent is situated in the attic. continued...
43. History and Significance (Continue on Reverse if necessary)
The first known occupants of this house, as identified in city directories, were the Cowdery family in 1894. At that time, Park Street was
called Water Street and the address was 3 North Water. Kirke Lionel Cowdery (b. 1866, WI; d. 1946) was a professor of French at Oberlin
College. In 1892, Kirke married Mary 'Marie' Emily (nee Taylor; b. 1869, OH; d. 1957). Mary attended Oberlin College from 1888 to 1891. The
couple had two children, Lawrence Taylor (b. 1893) and Karl Montague (b. 1895). Professor Cowdery was noted for having led the campaign
for a Phi Beta Kappa honor society chapter at the college. His name also appears in many documents relating to Mormonism, as he was the
grandnephew of Oliver Cowdery, who wrote a large portion of the Book of Mormon. Though Kirke was not Mormon continued...
44. Description of Environment and Outbuildings (See #52)
This house has no associated outbuildings. It is located on a residential street, near downtown Oberlin.
45. Sources of Information
Oberlin Heritage Center Resource Center, City Directories, Oberlin Phone Book and Past Perfect collections program; Lorain County Court
House, Auditor Property Record, Internet, http://www.loraincounty.com/auditorindex.shtml, accessed 2009; 'H. Wallace Smith,' Obituary,
Oberlin News-Tribune, 2/7/1974, p. 4; 'Fred Mitro,' Obituary, Oberlin News-Tribune, 1/18/1973, p. 2; 'Gilbert Osmer dies at 53,' Oberlin News
Tribune, 2/23/1967, p. 9; Cowdery Kirke L., New Boy,' Oberlin News, 1/15/1897, p. 8, c. continued...
46. Prepared By: Liz
49. PIR Reviewer:
Schultz
6. Specific Address or Location
4571675
Northing
25 North Park
Oberlin
rental property
23. Present Use
RESIDENTIAL/DOMESTIC
4. Present or Historic Name(s)
37. Window Type(s)
1 over 1
Other
38. Building Dimensions
24' x 45'
Oberlin
9. U.T.M. Reference
Quadrangle Name:
398526
17
Easting
Zone
2. County
19a. Design Sources
25 North Park
Lorain
6. Specific Address or Location
LOR-0207
1-21
1. No.
47. Organization: Oberlin Heritage Center
48. Date Recorded: 11/20/2009
50. PIR Review Date:
LOR-02071-21
2. County
Lorain
8. Site Plan with North Arrow
4. Present Name(s)
LOR-0207
1-21
1. No.
rental property
5. Historic or Other Name(s)
Cowdery-Mitro House
54. Farmstead Plan :
Door Selection:
Single off center
Door Position:
Recessed
Orientation:
Gable end axis
Symmetry:
Bilateral asymmetry
Report Associated With Project:
NADB #:
LOR-02071-21
2. County
Lorain
4. Present Name(s)
rental property
5. Historic or Other Name(s)
Cowdery-Mitro House
42. Further Description of Important Interior and Exterior Features (Con't)
A small, one-story addition at the rear has a screened-in porch attached to it. The north elevation includes a historic door right of center.
The door has horizontal wood panels below a square window. A square window is also located at the right of the first story, while small
paired, 1/1 double hung windows are at the left. The second story has a 1/1 double hung window at both the left and center of the elevation.
In the rear one-story addition, the house has an awning-style window. This house is similar in design to 123 and 175 North Pleasant in
Oberlin.
43. History and Significance (Con't)
himself, he and his wife, Mary, were interested in tracing the roots of Mormonism and were well-versed in regards to a controversial
document housed in Oberlin College's library called the 'Spaulding Manuscript,' which some believe to be the basis for the Book of
Mormon. The Cowdery family lived in this house through 1900. In 1902, Mrs. Lavina Hawk (or Lovina Howk) (b. 1853, NY) occupied the
house through 1904. In 1908, Ara E. Gill (b. 1873, Ohio) moved into the house with his wife, Daisy D. (b. 1875, Ohio; d. 1910). Ara and Daisy
married in 1896 and they had three children: Vera (b. 1900), Minana M. (b. 1901), and Harriet A. (b. 1904). Ara worked as a piano tuner,
repairer, and technician for Saunders and Gill and the Conservatory of Music. Tragically, Daisy committed suicide in 1910, and the Gills
vacated the house shortly thereafter. The next known occupants were Earl Leroy Tucker (b. 1895) and wife Leona Gertrude (nee Cole; b.
1897, Ohio). Earl worked as a clerk and became the owner of Dobyns Bakery in 1917. In 1920, the city directory identifies Charles G.
Hutchinson (b. 1862) living here with wife, Clara (b. 1874). They had married in 1894 and had two children: Leland (b. 1899) and Doris (b.
1901). While living at this location, Doris was a student at Oberlin High School and Leland was a student at Oberlin College. The
Hutchinsons were no longer residents of the house in 1927 and it is unclear in the city directory who the occupants were at that time. The
next known occupants were Luke E. (b. 1901, OH; d. 1980, Oberlin) and Helen A. (b. 1904 NY; d. 1981, Oberlin) Steiner in 1933. Luke Steiner
was a 1924 graduate of Oberlin College and a professor in the Chemistry Department. The Steiners had two children. From 1935 through
1937, the house was occupied by Oberlin High School graduate H. Wallace Smith (b. 1901, WV; d. 1974, OH) and wife Geneva Louise (nee
Edmonds; b. 1906, OH). Wallace was a bank teller at Oberlin Savings Bank and Geneva was a bookkeeper. They had married in 1926 and
had two children: Stanley Wallace (b. 1927), a graduate of both Oberlin High School and Oberlin College, and William Lee (b. 1929), a
graduate of Oberlin High School. The Clarke family occupied the house from 1939 through 1940. Alfred Clarke was a steam fitter. He and his
wife Alice had one child. From 1941 through 1942, an Elyria factory worker named Clyde Morrison lived here with his wife, Elfreda. In 1943,
Fred William Mitro (b. 1915, OH; d. 1973, Oberlin) moved in and remained in the house through 1948. Fred was a graduate of Oberlin High
School and married Rita R. in 1948. They had seven children: Frank, Fred J., John J., James, Dennis, Joanna, and Diane. Fred, Sr. had
worked as a core maker at the Elyria foundry, a lubeman at Oberlin Gulf, a partner in running Midland Sohio on Main Street, and was an
employee at the Oberlin Canteen Co. He was a member of Sacred Heart Church and the Holy Name Society at the church. Though the city
directory does not list the Mitro family at this address in the 1956 and 1961 volumes, they are again listed in 1970 and in the 1973 phone
book. In 1956, Gilbert H. and Alma V. Osmer were listed as the occupants of the house. 'Gil' (b. 1914; d. 1967) was a graduate of Oberlin High
School and was the foreman in the paint department at Oberlin College. He and Alma had three children: Michael, Judith, and Vicky. In 1961,
Elden and Wanda L. Bayne were listed as the residents. Elden worked as a mechanic and Wanda was an operator for Northern Ohio
Telephone. The owners and occupants of the house from 1973 through the early 1990s are unknown except for Robert H. Stillwell, a
photographer for Oberlin College, who lived here from circa 1979 to 1985. By 1993, the current owner, Vasanti P. Kharkaras had taken
ownership of this current rental property. VPK Lmtd is a rental company.
44. Description of Environment and Outbuildings (Con't)
45. Sources (Con't)
3; 'Kirke L. Cowdery Married Mary E. Taylor In Mt. Vernon,' Oberlin News, 9/8/1892, p. 8, c. 3; 'Kirke L. Cowdery Retiring,' Oberlin
News-Tribune, 6/4/1931, p. 4, c. 4; Mrs. A. E. Gill died suicide,' Oberlin News, 4/20/1910, p. 1, c. 5; 'Earl Leroy Tucker Married Leona Gertrude
Cole,' Oberlin News, 11/29/1916, p. 1, c. 5; ' Earl Leroy Tucker is New Owner of Dobyns Bakery,' Oberlin News, 1/3/1917, p. 5, c. 1; 'George
Morrison in Anti-Aircraft Division Near Honolulu,' Oberlin News-Tribune, 12/7/1944, p. 5; 'Phi Beta Kappa, Zeta of Ohio Chapter,' Oberlin
Archives, http://www.oberlin.edu/archive /holdings/finding/RG19/SG3/S2/SS1/adminhist.html, accessed 7/8/2009; 'Kirke L. and Mary T.
Cowdery Inventory,' Oberlin Archives, http://www.oberlin.edu/archive/holdings/finding/RG30/SG10/inventory.html, accessed 7/8/2009;
Goulder, Grace, 'Ohio Scenes and Citizens,' Cleveland Plain Dealer, 3/5/1950, http://sidneyrigdon.com/dbroadhu/OH/miscoh07.htm, access
7/8/2009; 'Memorial Resolution: Karl M. Cowdery (1895-1944), Stanford University.
LOR-0207
1-21
1. No.