John B. Tytus House - Middletown, Ohio

The John B. Tytus House is a historic house in Middletown, Ohio. Built in 1865, it was the home of John Butler Tytus (1875-1944). It is a three-story masonry structure, built out of red brick. It has a stylistically eclectic set of architectural features that includes rounded arches in the Romanesque style, half-timbered gable ends in the Tudor Revival style, and an eyebrow dormer.
After graduating from Yale in 1897, Tytus worked for a short time in his father's paper mill, then in a bridge construction company in Dayton, Ohio. On a visit to the American Rolling Mill (later Armco), Tytus noticed the laborious hand processes involved in making a sheet of strip steel. He was soon employed by Armco, here he developed skills as an engineer and learned the manufacturing process well. Observing that efficiencies of manufacturing could be realized by being able to continuous feed hot steel through a rolling process, he set about to create such a process in 1921. By 1924 his process was sufficiently developed that the company built a new plant implementing it. The plant was an immediate success, and the process was soon widely adopted by other steelmakers. Tytus became a vice-president of Armco and received that company's Distinguished Service Award in 1926, the f i r s t person awarded it for something other than heroism or lifesaving. In 1935, the American Iron and Steel Institute presented Tytus with the Gary Memorial Award, the highest honor in industry, for his outstanding achievements.
House was posted to the National Register of Historic Places on May 27, 1975. GPS: 39.51286°N, -84.40891°W.

 

David Rohrer Mansion and Carriage House - Germantown, Ohio

David Rohrer Mansion in Germantown, Ohio. Built in 1865 for the Mudlick Distillery owner, David Rohrer (1835-1917). The house was built in three phases, from1865 through 1887. The unusual architectural combination of Victorian, Eastlake, and Queen Anne styles. The bricks for the mansion were fired on site, and the timber was cut from the homestead. The carriage house was probably built around 1887.

Christian Rohrer purchased a mill in 1847, who claimed to have made the first bourbon whiskey in Montgomery County. David Rohrer, Christian Rohrer's son, took over the distillery and mill in 1861 and produced Mudlick Whiskey until about 1914.
Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on May 22, 1978. GPS: 39.62247°N, -84.38459°W.

Samuel Spitler House - Brookville, Ohio

Photo was taken in 1894 right after the family moved into their new home.

Photo was taken in 1973 before the house was moved and rehabilitated.

The Samuel Spitler House is a historical house in Brookville, Ohio. The house was built in 1894 and is a unique three-story frame Queen Anne style house including a tower room, seven porches, and much ornamental detail. The upper floor has three bedrooms and a bathroom (the first indoor one in Brookville with running water). A local builder and craftsman, Warren Rasor, constructed the house using plans (Design No. 60) of architect George F. Barber. By 1973, the house had deteriorated badly and was scheduled for demolition to make way for a parking lot. Several local citizens recognized the uniqueness of the building and organized to “Save The Spitler House.” Funds were raised to purchase another lot, build a new basement, then have the house raised, turned around, moved from the original location on Hay Ave., across the alley and settled on its new foundation. Following the move, restoration began, and the house was opened to the public on May 15, 1976, at its new location on Market St. Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on September 28, 1973. GPS: 39.83569N, -84.41362W.