Dear Society Members,

Summer greetings to everyone and I hope you are allhaving a wonderful summer.

It certainly has been a very warm one already, but Ipersonally love summer and my home grown tomatoes!

The Board has been contemplating hosting “open hours” inour room at the Library. This gives the members and publica chance to see our collection and ask questions aboutanything in particular they might be interested in. Once wehave details firmly in place, we will be sure to notify you. Ifyou have any comments or suggestions for this, we wouldcertainly like to hear from you in our general mailbox!

Because I don’t thank them enough, I’d like to recognizethe various committees of the Board. I try to do this at the annual meeting, but many of you don’t frequentlyattend those. This will also familiarize members with “who does what”.

Archives Committee: Jill Kuyper and volunteer DebbieFarynowski. Jill and Debbie are in the Library room atleast once a week, tirelessly scanning and filing ourcollection for Timeline updates. Be sure to visit the Timelinein the Library next to the reference desk!

Grandview Avenue Breezeway: Ruthanne James and JaneHarris. The breezeway has been updated many times so besure to visit the latest installment on your way to whereveryou might be headed on the Avenue.

Our Website: Created and maintained by Dr.WayneCarlson. This is is lots of work. The site has been newlyupdated with many new features, so please check it out!

Facebook Page and High School display case: TomDeMaria. Many of you frequent the Facebook page, andwe’d love for you to “frequent” the high school display case.It is updated regularly!

Newsletter: Karen Riggs is our newsletter chair. She’s doing a wonderful job. Karen took over after the loss of Pat Mooney, and it’s quite an undertaking.

Finally, welcome new Board Members Teri Alexander andKim Sides. Teri has always been a friend to the Society andhas much to offer all of us with her experience not only inthe business world, but in historic preservation. Kim hasalso worked with the Society on home tours and will surelybring some new life to new events we are discussing.

As always, I welcome your thoughts, suggestions orcomments.

Sincerely,Tracy Liberatore, President

July 2017Visit our website and Facebook page!

www.ghmchs.org

https://www.facebook.com/Grandview-Heights-Marble-Cliff-Historical-Society-120249178081561/

�PRESIDENT’S LETTER

recently spent a fascinating afternoonreminiscing with Dirk Voelker, one of the orig-inal founders of the Grandview Heights/MarbleCliff Historical Society (GH/MCHS). In fact,Dirk’s affiliation goes back even farther in theorganization’s history as he, along with AnnLarrick, Virginia Abbot and Win Keller weredesignated to act as a steering committee toinvestigate what steps were necessary to orga-nize a historical society. On February 22, 1974,they met with Daniel Porter, director of theOhio Historical Society. Less than five months later the Articles of Incorporationas a not for profit corporation had been approved for filing with the State ofOhio so July 17, 1974, is considered as the birth of the GH/MCHS. At the firstAnnual Meeting on September 18, the constitution drafted by Dirk wasapproved and the original four steering committee members plus formerGrandview Heights Mayor Joseph Wyman were elected as trustees.

Another interesting facet of my conversation with Dirk involved hismemories of what it was like to grow up in the hacienda designed by notedarchitect Frank Packard which Theodore Lindenberg began occupying in1906. Nearly everyone referred to the Voelker house at 1087 Lincoln Road as“the Spanish House.” Dirk recalled sitting on the indoor patio with his mothershortly after they bought the house in 1941 as she looked up at the leakyglass ceiling and wondered aloud if perhaps they hadn’t made a mistake inacquiring a house that needed so many repairs after sitting empty followingLindenberg’s death in the 1930s. Did even the Tiffany chandeliers and hardwareor the unique design of this house make it a worthwhile investment whenso much work was involved? Obviously their endeavors to restore the houseto its original beauty were extremely successful. Thousands of people linedup for a chance to view this spectacular structure when it was on theColumbus Museum of Art’s Decorators’ Show House tour in 2003.

Dirk told me that during the war years his family had a large vegetablegarden as well as an apple orchard on the property. Since his mother had grownup on a farm, she was able to supervise the garden aswell as the production of cider from their very owncider press. They also kept chickens and raised a calf, sowere quite self sustaining. He always knew that theirhouse was different from those of his friends, but forthe Voelkers, it was just “home.”

The GH/MCHS is deeply indebted to Dirk forhis early efforts in helping to channel the enthusi-asm of volunteers to create this organization and forhis continuing assistance over the years with ourlegal affairs. Thank you, Dirk Voelker!

I

Dirk and his wife Sharonin front of their formerMarble Cliff home.

A Society Founding Father

Society’s founding personagein 1974, with Dirk Voelker atbottom left.

By Jackie Day Cherry

PAGE 2

ious times during this period included: • Emily Platt Benua (b. 1906 – d. 1989)• William E. Benua (Emily’s husband; b. 1900 – d. 1992)

• Anne Benua Udy (Emily andWilliam’s daughter)

• Polly Benua Lindemanm (Emily andWilliam’s daughter)The Benuas were active in conser-

vation activities for many years in Fairfieldand Hocking Counties. The Benua familydonated 661 acres to Franklin County; thatacreage became part of Clear Creek MetroPark in Hocking Hills in 1995 and includesBenua Lake.

Dean P. Close, owned and operatedthe Grandview Café from from the late1940s through the ‘70s along with theFlame (in Columbus near the corner ofFifth and Grandview Avenues) and the FourWinds (in Hilliard) restaurants. A featuredmenu item at The Flame (sister restaurantto the Grandview Café) was the “ChuckWagon,” a kabob of beef tenderloin andmushrooms, along with deviled eggs,shrimp, bologna, Swiss cheese, celery,

olives, and radishes. The “Chuck Wagon”was only served after 10 p.m. Before hisrestaurant career, Close was a jazz musicianwho played with many of the big bands ofthe 1920s through 1940s. Close was listedfor 40 years in Who’s Who In American Artand won numerous awards for his art. Heowned the Crown and the Farr-Close artgalleries in Columbus, and he retired asdirector of the Fifth Avenue Galleries. WhileDean was Grandview Café owner in August1949, a fire of undetermined origin causedextensive damage to the walls and burnedabout one half of the bar in the Café.

In 1993, the Grandview Café was givennew life when it reopened as PJ’s Grand-view Café, specializing in American andGreek fare. Peter Drevonas honored thebuilding’s history during his ownershipwith pictures and memorabilia ofGrandview to decorate the space. Some ofthe pictures included the 1921 GrandviewHigh School’s basketball team; Grandview’sfirst high school, circa 1895; and Heisman

he Grandview Café, although offi-cially located just inside City of Columbusborders, has been a mainstay for GrandviewHeights and Marble Cliff residents since1925. Notable property and restaurantowners, funky furnishings, and the nostal-gic feel, along with a major renovation andre-opening in May 2017, prompted a closerlook at its history by the Society.

The property (Lot 229, 1455 WestThird Avenue) was bought for $1 and“other valuable considerations” by MaybelleR. Casbarro from a California “unmarriedman” – Blaine Galloway in 1924. Maybelleand her sons (Nicholas and John J. Jr.) heldthe property through the late 1930s. JohnJ. Jr. was the owner of the Jewelry Depart-ment in the John J. Carroll Store in Newark,Ohio.

After the Casbarros, the Benua familyowned the property upon which theGrandview Café is located from the late1930s through the early 1990s. Familymembers listed as property owners at var-

1959 Ad for the Grandview Café.

1949 Ad for the Grandview Café from theGrandview Business Association’s Businessand Professional Directory – “LegalBeverages” denotes alcohol was sold at theCafé; KI 0124 is restaurant’s phone number.

TThe Grandview Café – Past and Present

Wedding reception at Grandview Café circa1930s; windows at back of the room in thisphoto are second story windows that remainat the Third Ave. front of the building today.

Front of Grandview Café circa 1997; theneon sign is now displayed in the back ofthe building on the upper patio.

Former Grandview Café’s owner – andaccomplished musician and artist – DeanClose.

Former Grandview Café property owner,Emily Platt Benua, crossing footbridge overClear Creek in Hocking County, 1931 (fromUniversity of Wisconsin Milwaukee DigitalPhoto Archives).

rooms, new kitchen equipment and twobars — one upstairs and the main one onground level. The menu was centered onso-called comfort food — lots of noodles,beef tips, potatoes and gravy. There was adaily lunch special, always $5.95. JerryGlenn, a veteran of Jimmy’s Place Upstairs,was the opening chef.

The owners of Grandview Café from2001-2007 were Ed Gaughen and BobKline.

Bill Cosgrove and Brett Holland tookover in 2007 with plans to make the cafémore of a destination spot rather than aplace for people to visit on the way toanother restaurant or bar. Their vision wasto turn the Café into an upscale place withmore draught beers, a designer cocktailmenu and expanded entertainment.

Brian Swanson purchased the Grand-view Café in 2016. Major renovations wereundertaken by Swanson, including movingthe kitchen upstairs, adding windows alongGrandview Ave., updating bathrooms,adding a staff staircase, and reconstructingthe outdoor patio and bar area. Swansonnotes “We are proud to be part of this his-toric landmark and strive to continue

helping our guests build lasting memorieswith friends, family, and coworkers.” Heretained ceiling tile, layers of wallpaper, andother features to maintain the nostalgic feel.A late 1800s-era chandelier added to thetwo-story foyer of the restaurant was res-urrected from a Broad Street mansion.Swanson installed vintage suitcase fronts asthe base of the bar on the first f loor.Unfortunately the old suitcases may havepre-dated flame retardants – many caughtfire as the fronts were cut off! Swansoncontinued his nod to nostalgia by labelingspecialty cocktails with names of formerGrandview Café owners and local promi-nent citizens.

With its distinguished past and promis-ing future, the Society looks forward tomany more years of memories and historyfor GH/MC residents at the Grandview Café.

PAGE 3

Trophy winner Howard “Hopalong” Cassadyrunning behind Hubert Bobo in the unde-feated 1954 OSU football team’s nationalchampionship season. A March 1994Columbus Dispatch review of the new PJ’sGrandview Café cited the “Greek lemonchicken soup prepared with homemadechicken stock and orzo boiled in the stock”

as a favorite dish. Larger entrees on the PJ’smenu included a 12-ounce, $9.45, “thickand juicy” pork chop. A Café furnishing that left with Drevonas was an illuminatedglobe holding plastic replicas of theBudweiser Clydesdales pulling a beerwagon with Dalmatians yapping behind.

Brothers David and Richard Dick,bought the building in September 1997 andspent the following months rebuilding.Improvements included up-to-date rest-

Tin ceiling tiles were retained by currentGrandview Café owner.

A Budweiser Clydesdale illuminated globe,similar to this one, was a fixture in theGrandview Café for many years.

Grandview Café former owner PeteDrevonas with Grandview Heights HighSchool Brotherhood Rooks poster featuringClass of 1945 members (photo fromColumbus Dispatch, 8/11/97).

Columbus and Grandview Heights firefight-ers battle 2010 blaze at Grandview Café.(photo from Columbus Dispatch)

Contents of time capsule buried inGrandview Café by Swanson.

The Grandview Café (Grandview Ave. side)has even been memorialized in art. (2004,image of painting from Michael S. McGinnwebsite).

Menu items from P.J.’s Grandview Caféincluding pork kebobs, stuffed grape leaves,home fries, and Greek salad (from 1994Columbus Monthly).

We welcome any additional information members might have on the Grandview Cafe for our archives.

ViewPoints is an occasionalpublication of the GrandviewHeights/Marble Cliff HistoricalSociety.

1685 West First Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43212

EDITOR Karen Riggs

DESIGN/PRODUCTIONMelissa Rady

Contact Editor Karen Riggs(karriggs@sbcglobal.net) forany interesting article ideas orto discuss photo contributions.

Marnie and Bob Hoag are new Life Members of theSociety with a passion for historical preservation.They both grew up in south Upper Arlington andhave lived in Marble Cliff foralmost 10 years. Marnie hasbeen a member of ColumbusLandmarks Foundation. The Hoags live in the ManorHouse of #10 Arlington Place inMarble Cliff. The Manor Houseis part of the mansion designedby Frank Packard and built in

1908 for Sylvio Casparis, the owner of Marble CliffQuarries. When the Hoags first moved to theirhome, they were pleased to find many of the fea-tures of the original mansion intact – includingfireplaces, light fixtures, and stained glass windows.They have worked to preserve the home’s features– for example, original window coverings were found in a closet bythe Hoags and re-installed on the back picture windows. The Hoagsappreciate the quality of their home’s original construction such asunusually thick walls and ceiling details. The mansion was said to bea copy of a Scottish castle; the Hoags have original architectural draw-ings for the mansion framed and on display in their home.

Bob recalls visiting a childhood friendat #10 Arlington Place in the late1960s/early 1970s. His friend’s fatherwas Byron Ireland, the renowned Ohioarchitect. Ireland is best known as thearchitect of the Ohio Historical Societybuilding (1969) that can be seen offI-71 in Columbus, Ohio. The Society welcomes the Hoagsamong our new Life Members!

The GrandviewHeights/Marble CliffHistorical Society

1685 WESTFIRSTAVENUECOLUMBUS, OHIO43212

PAGE 4

BECOME A MEMBERof the Grandview Heights/Marble Cliff Historical Society!Please complete the information below and send with yourcheck made out to: GH/MCHSMail or drop off at the Grandview Heights Public Library, 1685 West First Avenue, Columbus, OH 43212

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPYEARLY DUES (SEPT. 1 – AUG. 31) ONE-TIME PAYMENT� Single $10.00� Couple $15.00� Organization $25.00

� Single $100.00� Couple $150.00� Organization $500.00� Benefactor $1000.00

LIFE TIME MEMBERSHIP

RENEW YOUR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPAnnual members will be getting a renewal notice soon via regular mail or email. If you are an annualmember and do not receive a renewal notice this Fall,

please contact Tracy Liberatore at tracyliberatore1@gmail.com

Please check the appropriate membership box:

NAME__________________________________________DATE _____________

SPOUSE (IF COUPLE MEMBERSHIP)___________________________________

ADDRESS _________________________________________________________

CITY/STATE/ZIP ___________________________________________________

PHONE___________________________________________________________

EMAIL____________________________________________________________

�

�

New Life Members EnthusedAbout Historical Preservation

1950s aerial view of Casparismansion; the mansion wassplit to establish two currenthomes (including the Hoags).

Bob andMarnie Hoag

Staircase newelposts in the Hoaghome carved intoarmor helmetsevoke the castlecomparison.