Saturday, February 2, 2008

Jefferson Street


5 comments:

irene said...

The tower is on the Knights of Pythias building. As a child, I took piano lesson in a room on the third floor. Fourth floor had an auditorium with a spiral staircase that fascinated the students.

I wonder what it is used for now?

Jeffrey Smith said...

It's empty; one of the problem buildings that everyone loves, but no one's willing to fix.

irene said...

It may not be an architectural triumph, but it certainly is more interesting than a large pastel-colored box.

Floors were all hardwood. Seems someone ought to be able to do something with it. Over a century old now -- is there some sort of structural problem. Heating system was hot water & radiators -- did they perhaps get their steam from the old Edison plant? Or perhaps coal gas? Wiring was probably knob-and-loom. Plumbing? Of course, if any of these are a problem, it would cost a small mint to update.

Jeffrey Smith said...

No structural problems. For a while, the roof was bad and there were a lot of broken windows. The roof was replaced within the last ten years and the windows fixed.

irene said...

Good to know that. Maybe it can be used for music again.

The J. W. Greene Co. used to occupy the first floor -- full of instruments, sheet music, and a remarkable collection of old player piano rolls -- would be worth a mint now.

The Toledo Orchestra used to hold auditions in the auditorium. Couldn't understand that, because the auditorium had hard surfaces -- the sound was the direct opposite of the peristyle (another love of mine).