MIchael Neil House
Built in c. 1898 for Michael Neil, who platted the Wolf Creek Area, it was sold shortly after it was built to Charles M. Seybold, President of the Seybold Machine Co. This brick Queen Anne style building stands out in the Grafton Hill Historic District. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Special thanks to Betsey Wilson, of House Histories who contributed this research to PDI.
The Barnett & Arnold plat, between Salem, Riverview, and Summit (North) was created in 1869.
In 1882, William Barnett sold two lots to Michael Neil, president of the Dayton
Hedge Company, for $2500. He was involved in real estate (platting the Wolf Creek Area) and bringing natural gas to Dayton,
as well as serving as vice president of the Columbia Bridge Company, later the Seybold Machine
Company.
The 1897 Sanborn Fire Insurance map showed that no house was constructed on these lots. However, an increase in the property tax assessment indicated that an house as construction on the lots in 1898. The house is a prime example of late Queen Anne, with multiple planes in the cross-gabled hipped roof, and bays projecting from three sides of the house. Masonry is unusual for this style, and limited the surface decoration to the front porch and the fish-scale shingles in the gables. The boxy footprint in a basic square reflects transition to the later Foursquare style.
In the 1900 Census , Michael Neil is listed as a “hedge fence planter,” along with Martha Neil at
the house, along with their son, William, a bookkeeper.
In 1903, the Neils sold the house for $12,500, to Charles Seybold, a German immigrant and
president of the Seybold Machine Company, "Manufacturers of High-Grade Machinery for
Bookbinders, Printers, Lithographers, Paper Mills, Etc." He was also president of the Seybold
Foundry Company according to the Dayton City Directory and his obituary.
The 1910 Census listed Charles and Blanche Seybold at the house, along with a 16-year-old
nephew and a female servant. In 1917 the Seybolds sold the house to Arthur M. Kittredge,
president of the Kay & Ess Company, and a former president of Barney & Smith, according to
his obituary. Arthur Kittridge died in 1925.
His heirs sold the house in 1926 to Jefferson Brooks Walters, Sr., an internationally-known
violinist and musician, who was later active in real estate. This property remained in the family
for two generations until it was sold by daughter Virginia Walters Fletcher in 1990. J. B. Walters
and his wife Mildred did not live at the house. According to the Dayton City Directory it was
occupied by his mother Welthy [sic] Walters until her death in 1939.
In 1940 Nora Timeus began operating a “rest home” at the property. The census listed Mrs.
Timeus, two servants and 17 “patients” living in the house.
In the late 1940s and early 1950s, the house was occupied by a William Crawford.
The 1950 Fire Insurance Map shows the house had remained the same since 1919, unlike some
of the neighboring residences where pasted updates show changes to the properties. In 1960.
Mrs. Elizabeth Stillwell operated the “Stillhaven Nursing Homes” on Central
Avenue. According the 1970 Dayton City Directory, the house was listed as the Central
Nursing Home.
In 1980, Eva Harris ran the property as the “Harmony House Boarding House”. Later in 1990
Robert & Mary Nicodemus purchased the property and Mary was the administrator of the
“Central Manor Adult Foster Care.” It is not clear how long this care home operated. Mary
Nicodemus died in 2003, and Robert in 2006. The property has been empty a number of years.
In 1995, the Landmarks Commission gave approval to demolish the carriage house behind the property after a fire ravaged it. The owner, Robert Nicodemus had been trying to get permission to demolish the carriage house since 1991, shortly after he took ownership. Photos are below courtesy of the City of Dayton.
Special thanks to Betsey Wilson, of House Histories who contributed this research to PDI.
The Barnett & Arnold plat, between Salem, Riverview, and Summit (North) was created in 1869.
In 1882, William Barnett sold two lots to Michael Neil, president of the Dayton
Hedge Company, for $2500. He was involved in real estate (platting the Wolf Creek Area) and bringing natural gas to Dayton,
as well as serving as vice president of the Columbia Bridge Company, later the Seybold Machine
Company.
The 1897 Sanborn Fire Insurance map showed that no house was constructed on these lots. However, an increase in the property tax assessment indicated that an house as construction on the lots in 1898. The house is a prime example of late Queen Anne, with multiple planes in the cross-gabled hipped roof, and bays projecting from three sides of the house. Masonry is unusual for this style, and limited the surface decoration to the front porch and the fish-scale shingles in the gables. The boxy footprint in a basic square reflects transition to the later Foursquare style.
In the 1900 Census , Michael Neil is listed as a “hedge fence planter,” along with Martha Neil at
the house, along with their son, William, a bookkeeper.
In 1903, the Neils sold the house for $12,500, to Charles Seybold, a German immigrant and
president of the Seybold Machine Company, "Manufacturers of High-Grade Machinery for
Bookbinders, Printers, Lithographers, Paper Mills, Etc." He was also president of the Seybold
Foundry Company according to the Dayton City Directory and his obituary.
The 1910 Census listed Charles and Blanche Seybold at the house, along with a 16-year-old
nephew and a female servant. In 1917 the Seybolds sold the house to Arthur M. Kittredge,
president of the Kay & Ess Company, and a former president of Barney & Smith, according to
his obituary. Arthur Kittridge died in 1925.
His heirs sold the house in 1926 to Jefferson Brooks Walters, Sr., an internationally-known
violinist and musician, who was later active in real estate. This property remained in the family
for two generations until it was sold by daughter Virginia Walters Fletcher in 1990. J. B. Walters
and his wife Mildred did not live at the house. According to the Dayton City Directory it was
occupied by his mother Welthy [sic] Walters until her death in 1939.
In 1940 Nora Timeus began operating a “rest home” at the property. The census listed Mrs.
Timeus, two servants and 17 “patients” living in the house.
In the late 1940s and early 1950s, the house was occupied by a William Crawford.
The 1950 Fire Insurance Map shows the house had remained the same since 1919, unlike some
of the neighboring residences where pasted updates show changes to the properties. In 1960.
Mrs. Elizabeth Stillwell operated the “Stillhaven Nursing Homes” on Central
Avenue. According the 1970 Dayton City Directory, the house was listed as the Central
Nursing Home.
In 1980, Eva Harris ran the property as the “Harmony House Boarding House”. Later in 1990
Robert & Mary Nicodemus purchased the property and Mary was the administrator of the
“Central Manor Adult Foster Care.” It is not clear how long this care home operated. Mary
Nicodemus died in 2003, and Robert in 2006. The property has been empty a number of years.
In 1995, the Landmarks Commission gave approval to demolish the carriage house behind the property after a fire ravaged it. The owner, Robert Nicodemus had been trying to get permission to demolish the carriage house since 1991, shortly after he took ownership. Photos are below courtesy of the City of Dayton.
Help PDI bring Dayton's endangered historic properties back to life!
Our Endangered Properties Committee provides resources and raises funds to proactively stabilize and/or obtain control of these irreplaceable properties. Preservation Dayton maintains an annual list of the Ten Most Endangered properties for intervention, as nominated by you and selected by the Endangered Properties Committee. Visit our Top 10 Endangered Properties page to see the full list of other nominees. If you have an urgent request for an at-risk historic property, please contact us at [email protected].
Please donate today! Your contribution, large or small, will save Dayton's historic structures before they are lost forever.
Your contributions are 100 percent tax deductible and are dedicated solely to preserving Dayton's rich history. The Dayton Foundation processes all gifts and donations to the Preservation Dayton, Inc. Fund #8630, a component fund of The Foundation. You can contribute by clicking the ‘Donate’ button below which takes you to the Dayton Foundation secure website. Or mail your check to payable to "Preservation Dayton, Inc. Fund #8630" Preservation Dayton, P.O. Box 3614, Dayton, OH 45401.
Thank you for your support!
Our Endangered Properties Committee provides resources and raises funds to proactively stabilize and/or obtain control of these irreplaceable properties. Preservation Dayton maintains an annual list of the Ten Most Endangered properties for intervention, as nominated by you and selected by the Endangered Properties Committee. Visit our Top 10 Endangered Properties page to see the full list of other nominees. If you have an urgent request for an at-risk historic property, please contact us at [email protected].
Please donate today! Your contribution, large or small, will save Dayton's historic structures before they are lost forever.
Your contributions are 100 percent tax deductible and are dedicated solely to preserving Dayton's rich history. The Dayton Foundation processes all gifts and donations to the Preservation Dayton, Inc. Fund #8630, a component fund of The Foundation. You can contribute by clicking the ‘Donate’ button below which takes you to the Dayton Foundation secure website. Or mail your check to payable to "Preservation Dayton, Inc. Fund #8630" Preservation Dayton, P.O. Box 3614, Dayton, OH 45401.
Thank you for your support!
