MORE PHOTOS BELOW -
By Monty Siekerman
John and Christina Dean sit on the steps of their home, which is nicely decorated for the holidays.
But there is much more to this story - the home at 125 E. Lincoln Ave. has undergone refurbishing this summer, and the two-story structure is one of the oldest houses in town.
Plus, a business card from the original owner was found in the flooring while working on exterior cellar doors four years ago.
Here's the story:
Over the past several years, John, assistant director of tech for Kenton City Schools, and Christina, culinary lead at The Inn, have been having their home brought back to its original state as far as possible.
During the past summer, the front exterior was improved with a new porch and entryway, in keeping with the original. Glazed bricks from the 1920s were taken from the old porch floor and used for the walk leading to the front door.
The well-preserved business card, more than 150 years old, tells of the original owner, William Young, who built the house in 1869. The card says the company sold oak, ash, hickory, and basswood. The company also did scrollwork and turning of all kinds, plus sold chair stuffing.
Christian Young purchased a mill from two men in 1859. He ran the business for 7 years, then took in two brothers, Henry and Christian (who built the Dean home) under the firm name Young and Brothers. The business prospered. In 1872, the Young brothers sold the business to William Edwards.
It is generally accepted that the oldest house still standing in Ada is where Carol Slane Florist is now located on South Main. The Dean's home may be the second oldest, or at least third oldest.
The large, brick home south of Keith's Hardware on Johnson Street is owned by Keith and Kathy Wire. The house was built by Christian Young, but the Wires search of records at the county courthouse were not conclusive about when it was built. The Wires said their house is thought to be built between 1860-1880.
In any case, both large, brick houses - located just half a block apart - prove that mills were profitable at the beginning of Ada's history. The mills drew workers to Ada, the town grew.
Then came Henry Solomon Lehr with his "Select School" and the town grew more. The railroad passed through Ada, further adding to the population because towns with access to railroads prospered. Staves and barrels made in Ada were shipped via rail, college students arrived by rail car.
There's not a big demand in this area for staves anymore, but the enormous trees that once covered this land helped build two big, brick homes that remain today.
More photos -
• A shadow box in the Dean home displays the business card, two original nails, and a brief history of the business.
* Three early photos of the Dean home.
