Today’s article came about rather serendipitously, as I was researching something unrelated only to come across a striking image of a home for sale in the Dayton Daily News on April 21, 1918.
After only a quick glance it was obvious which house it was, as it is one of the most recognizable homes in the area.
The house at 6 Josie Street in St. Anne’s Hill is known as the Steamboat House for the double wraparound porches that give it a look reminiscent of the old riverboats that were abundant on the Ohio River before the days of the railroads. This view in particular gives the impression of a proud vessel chugging along on the water.
The original home was built in 1852 by one of St. Anne’s Hill’s major developers, Albert McClure. but like many of Dayton’s oldest homes, it was significantly altered later.
Thus the look we know today didn’t come about until McClure had financial problems and lost the home. It later ended up in the hands of Jacob O. Joyce in 1889, who “added many Victorian features to the home including additional rooms, stairways, dormers, bays, and the porches.”
The home is listed individually on the National Register of Historic Places. Preservation Dayton has called it “one of the most remarkable historic homes in our region.”
The home’s identity as a “Steamboat” was nearly put to the test during the Great Flood of 1913 when the waters crested just below the home’s retaining wall. The house served as a site of refuge for flood victims.
In later decades as the surrounding area declined, the house was nearly condemned but it was saved by Alice Woodward, a neighborhood resident who renovated over 40 homes in the area, including several in St. Anne’s Hill.
Street Grid Changes in St. Anne’s Hill and East Dayton (Old Maps)
The current address of the Steamboat House is 6 Josie Street, but the area has changed radically since the surrounding neighborhood was razed on three sides leaving only this small pocket of neighborhood.
The house previously stood at the SE corner of McLain and Quitman, at a quirky intersection which also featured Eagle Street which ran diagonally, as well as tiny Ophelia Street at the spot where McLain changed direction.
Here’s a map from 1918, the exact year of the newspaper image, showing the house (note that the orientation is different from the Google Map above – here east is at the top).
And a current aerial with the same orientation.
Today you immediately hit busy and wide Keowee Street to the west (the bottom in this orientation), but you can see the earlier quirky street grid in the same 1918 set of maps below (the house would be just to the right of the tip of the red arrow):
The text of the 1918 newspaper listing is as follows:
This fine brick residence located so delightfully at the southeast corner of McLain and Quitman streets on an elevation overlooking the city, is for sale.
The house has six pleasant, comfortable rooms on the second floor, each opening into a large hall with the conveniences of bathroom and extra lavatories. There are six conveniently arranged living rooms on the first floor. The building is heated with a splendid hot water system.
A pleasant feature of the property are the colonial porches on both the first and second floors. On the alley line of the property is a three story slate roof barn or garage. Capacity four or five automobiles. The grounds are artistically laid out with proper distribution of trees and shrubbery.
The property is admirably adapted for the residence of a large family-a sanatorium-a private hospital-a club-a physician’s residence. It is too large for my family which is my only reason for disposing of the property. I am ready to make an attractive price to any one interested. Mrs. G. W. Shroyer
Sources:
Preservation Dayton, St. Anne’s Hill Walking Tour
Dayton Daily News
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
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