South Fountain Avenue Historic District

History

Developed from the 1850s to the 1920s, concurrent with a period of tremendous growth in the greater community, the South Fountain Avenue Historic District encompasses an area of approximately fifteen square blocks immediately south of downtown Springfield, Ohio across the street from South High School (Springfield, Ohio). Prominent Americans like Oliver S. Kelly, William N. Whiteley, and Francis Bookwalter are counted among the district’s founding residents. With the continued success of Whiteley’s Champion Reaper and other district owned businesses, South Fountain came to be recognized as a premier residential area for Springfield's affluent.

Neighborhood history

The South Fountain Historic District is significant as the largest, intact concentration of high-style late 19th and early 20th century houses in Springfield and as the embodiment of the growth of the upper middle class and the prosperity of the industrial and business leaders who populated the neighborhood. Their economic success, during a period of intense industrial growth in Springfield, is reflected in the many distinctive residences in the area. Included are excellent examples of the transitional Greek Revival-Italianate, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Second Empire, Eastlake porches, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, along with a number of more typical turn of the century housing. Several handsome churches, small commercial buildings and a fire station are the only non-residential buildings which are original to the area.

A number of important business and industry leaders lived along South Fountain -especially those associated with two of the earliest and most successful early industries, the James Leffel Co. and Whiteley, Fassler & Kelly (later became the Champion Co.) Warren Leffel, son of the founder lived at 704. Francis Bookwalter, Vice-President and Treasurer lived at 611. Amos Whiteley, a founder lived at 509, William N. Whiteley at 1103, Oliver S. Kelly, a founder lived at 403, his son Oliver W. Kelly lived at 621. Robert Johnson, Secretary lived at 429. Other important residents included Andrew Black, a dry goods merchant who built Black’s Opera House (353 S. Fountain), William D. Bayley, owner of the William Bayley Co. (521 S. Fountain), James Johnson Jr., leading attorney and mayor in 1895 (563 S. Fountain), Hector Urquhart, owner and president of the Springfield Baking Co. (1025 S. Fountain) and Edward W. Simpson, Fire Chief from 1885–1904 and owner of Simpson Lumber Co. (705 S. Fountain).

South Fountain Preservation, Inc.

South Fountain Preservation, Inc. is the neighborhood association in the South Fountain Avenue Historic District and a registered 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation. The idea behind South Fountain Preservation emerged from hours of discussion over a kitchen table during the summer of 1976. In the fall of that year, the group was founded and began holding regular monthly meetings. Mailings were sent to property owners encouraging them to attend and air their opinions. South Fountain Preservation was chartered as a non-profit corporation in the summer of 1977. The fifteen member Board of Directors was chosen and officers were elected.

South Fountain Historic District Tour of Homes

The South Fountain Historic District Tour of Homes showcases ten period residences and gardens, including Second Empire, Queen Anne, Italianate, and Arts and Crafts houses. The purpose of the Tour of Homes is to display Springfield's historic residences, attract would-be buyers who are interested in revitalizing the South Fountain Historic District, and to inspire respect for Springfield's history.

Porch Festival

The South Fountain Preservation, Inc. Annual Fall Porch Festival is a way to invite the community to visit the district in a less formal setting than the Tour of Homes. Activities frequently include antique car shows, plant sale, and vendors selling items such as antiques, crafts, tatted lace, purses and baked goods. Residents will offer shortened tours of finished and unfinished houses.

Summer walking tours

The Springfield Preservation Alliance celebrates sponsors annual summer walking tours to highlight both architecture and historical events.