 HISTORIC MANSION READIED FOR REHAB Time for others to step up
During 1850-1852, when soap and candle manufacturer
and later mayor George Hatch built his handsome Greek
Revival/Italianate mansion at 830 Dayton St., known as Millionaire's
Row, he made so many changes (at least five according to the noted
architect Isaiah Rogers' notes) that it became known as Hatch's Folly.
So
when Natasha Cavanaugh first saw it in 2007, she adopted the name for a
loosely-knit group of family and friends working to save it.
But there was nothing foolish or frivolous about their plan.
Fans
of preserving the West End and its historic properties, the goal of the
present-day non-profit Hatch's Folly LLC was "to stabilize the house
until someone could complete the renovation," she says, a daunting job
considering that the roof of the 12,000 square foot, four-story home
"looked like it had been leaking for years" and the unusual and
distinctive curved bay windows needed replaced.
 The
"plus" side was that much of the woodwork, ceiling medallions,
fireplaces and exquisite architectural embellishments were untouched.
Cavanaugh and the group worked with the Cincinnati Preservation
Association, the city and the Ohio Historical Society to get the house
listed as an individually significant site on the National Register of
Historic Places, which then led to grants for repair work.
The
roof has been completely replaced, down to the underlayment and boards.
The unusual curved windows are new, and other basic repairs have been
checked off, including an alarm system.
Today, it's ready for the next step — a new owner to join the two or three current renovations under way on the street.
Cavanaugh
is looking for "one who is interested in being involved not just in the
investment but in being an integral part of the community and entice
others to invest here."
Now that Hatch's Folly
has poured great amounts of time and effort into preserving this
historic and gorgeous treasure, its time for an owner with equal
amounts of commitment and appreciation to step up.
Information on the home and the April 16 auction is available from Dave Dowers of Sibcy Cline,
(513) 535-4708.
Up for Auction
1 p.m. April 16
Hatch's Folly, 830 Dayton St.
TIME TO PART WAYS...WITH CARSON PALMER
So quarterback Carson Palmer no longer wants to be a
Bengal. He's effectively saying "trade me or I'll retire," meaning team
owner Mike Brown is locked in yet another battle with a disgruntled
employee.
The employee thinks the company
isn't performing up to his expectations and wants to leave for a better
job. Fair enough. Happens every day in the corporate world.
But
many of his company's stockholders (read: fans) think that the employee
isn't performing up to their expectations and actually want to let him
go.
It doesn't matter who is right, whether
the team letting Palmer down or vice versa has caused this standoff. It
doesn't matter that Palmer has been a model citizen or that the
franchise has no alternatives at QB at the moment.
What matters is one thing only: Where do we go from here?
There
are effectively only two options for the team: Trade Palmer or force
him to honor his contract and return to the team or retire. We say,
trade him.
No sports team or company wants an
employee whose heart isn't in his or her work, who isn't going to give
his or her all. If Palmer is forced to return, could he possibly be
motivated to lead, to perform at his best?
The
NFL is a QB league. No other position is even close to being as
crucial. If you have an effective and motivated QB, you win.
Let him go.
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