United States Department of the Interior National Park Senrice

ational Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms

NO. 1024-0018 i2 j3 1 /84

Type all entr ies-complete applicable sections

I . Name hlstoric )

M n h l m . W i l l i m P. I

and/or common r t ~ i l l ~~~~~v

2. Location -

street & number 819 Pennsylvania Aveme N& not for publication

city, town Saint Albans vicinity of - state West Virginia code 054 county Hanawha code 039

3. Classification Category Ownership - district - public 1L buiiding(s) X private - structure - both - site Public Acquisition - object in process

... being considered 3 i

Status lL occupied - unoccupied w o r k in progress Accessible a_ yes: restricted - yes: unrestricted - no

Present Use - agriculture - commercial - educational - entertainment - government - industrial - military

- museum - park - private residence 1L religious - scientific - transportation - other:

4. Owner of Property name Covenant Presbyterian Church

street & number 819 Pehnsvlvanfa Avenue

citv, town Sain t Ubans &!A vicinity of state West Virginia

5. Location of Lead Description

street & number Court and Virginia S t r e e t s

city, town Charles ton ,tate West Virginia

6. Representation in Existing Surveys

title N/A has this property been determined eligible? - yes X no

dale - federal - state - countv - tocal

depositorv for survev records

city, town state

'. . - - - ; "'

7; Description

Condition Check one Check one 1 excellent - deterlorated - unaltered X original site - good - ruins altered m o v e d date f a i r - unexposed

Doscribe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

The W i l l i a m E. Mohler House, o r " H i l l Grove", s tands on t h e cen te r of a corner l o t , a t t h e corners of Pennsylvania Avenue and Kanawha Terrace, overlooking t h e business d i s t r i c t of Sa in t Albans, Kanawha County, West Virginia.

1 The house is a 2 h t o r y rec tangle , with a corner tower, r e s t i n g on a massive r a i s e d basement of r u s t i c a t e d s tone with rock-face f i n i s h . The house is a good example of Late Vic tor ian Eclecticism, wi th elements of the Queen Anne s t y l e predominent. One of t h e most s i g n i f i c a n t of these elements is the l a r g e corner t u r r e t wi th i t s .canical cap; The res idence is surmounted by a complex roof of m u l t i p l e gables, wi th four co lossa l paneled b r i c k chimneys with corbled caps which soar above t h e roof l e v e l . A recessed balcony opening off of t h e ground ballroom, is s e t wi th in t h e f r o n t gable, which contains simulated English half-timbering. Queen Anne embelishments a l s o include wooden f i n i a l s and drops a t t h e roof r i d g e s and occas ional gabled dormers. Ornamental bracketing and open r a f t e r ends a r e found i n t h e qaves. Another t y p i c a l l y Vic tor ian e x t e r i o r f e a t u r e is t h e wrap around velanda which conta ins d e l i c a t e wooden spindlework. Most of t h e windows, 2 over 2, a r e surmounted by s tone l i n t e l s . One second s t o r y bay window f e a t u r e s t i n y leaded i n s e t panes and one window, on a s i d e e levat ion, i s of s t a i n e d g lass .

The W i l l i a m E. Mohler House conta ins ( including t h e basement) thirteen,, rooms, six of which a r e bedrooms. The grand ballroom on t h e upper most f l o o r i s now used by t h e church a s a sanctuary. The'open, c e n t r a l s t a i r c a s e i s a masterpiece of Vic to r ian i n t e r i o r d e t a i l , having d e l i c a t e l y turned walnut spindlework and f i n e l y carved square newel pos ts . The e i g h t f i r e p l a c e s i n t h e house are framed by a v a r i e t y of mantlepieces, ranging from marble, with terra c o t t a f r i e z e s , t o mahogany wi th carved p i l a s t e r s . F loors are oak throughout, a s i s much of the i n t e r i o r woodwork, wi th some walnut.

The Dining H a l l conta ins a bu i l t - in oak china cabinet which covers one e n t i r e wall . I n t e r i o r door design a l t e r n a t e s from four t o six panels.

There is a two-story garage of b r i c k composition adjacent t o t h e house.

Most of t h e property is s t i l l surrounded by t h e o r i g i n a l wrought-iron decora t ive fence.

The W i l l i a m E. Mohler House, l a r g e l y unchanged s i n c e i t s const ruct ion a t t h e turn-of-the-century, is unquestionably S a i n t Albans' f i n e s t ex tan t examples of Queen Anne s t y l e Vic tor ian a rch i t ec tu re .

1 .Tine Mohler House f e a t u r e s outstanding pressed, Roman-style red b r ick facades.

II...-

8 ' Significance

Period - prehistoric - 1400-1499 - 1500-1 599 - l6O&l699 - 1700-1 799 - 1800-1 899 & 1900-

Areas of Significance-Check and justify below - archeology-prehistoric - community planning - landscape a r c h i t e c t u r e religion - archeology-historic - conservation - law - scfence - agriculture - economks - literature - sculpture 2 L architecture - education - military - social1 - art - engineering - music humanitarian L commerce - explorationlsettlement - philosophy - theater - communications - industry - politics/govemment - transportation

Specific data8 BuilderlArchitect /

Statement of Significance (in one paragraph)

The W i l l i a m E. Mohler House, located a t an important i n t e r s e c t i o n over- looking t h e downtown business d i s t r i c t of S a i n t Albans, Kanawha County, V e s t V i rg in ia , i s s i g n i f i c a n t a s t h e preiminent example of Queen Anne-style Vic tor ian a r c h i t e c t u r e i n t h e c i t y of Sa in t Albans.' It is a l s o s i g n i f i c a n t a s t h e home of s e v e r a l individ- u a l s who have played prominent r o l e s i n t h e h i s t o r y of t h e area. 2

., - . . ' .. .-

. Explanatory Notes

1. The W i l l i a m E. Mohler House, o r " H i l l Grove", a s he c a l l e d it, s tands m a j e s t i c a l l y a t t h e i n t e r s e c t i o n of Kanawha Terrace ( t h e c i t y ' s only through r e s i d e n t i a l Avenue) and Pennsylvania Avenue, on a small h i l l t h a t overlooks St . ~ l b a n s ' o l d e s t sec t ion . The rounded t u r r e t wi th i t s con ica l cap, impressive m u l t i p l e gab les decorated with v e r t i c a l wood banding, soaring corbeled chimneys, and, most e s p e c i a l l y , the r i c h d e t a i l of e x t e r i o r decora t ive wood elements g ive t h i s t h i r t e e n room res idence a Victor ian f l avor , t h e q u a l i t y of which is unpara l l e l i n West Vi rg in ian ' s 14 th mostpopulacemunicipality. A s M r . Mohler was pres ident of t h e a r e a ' s l a r g e s t lumber company, he spared no expense i n providing t h e f i n e s t of woods f o r t h e house, a s i s evidenced by t h e r i chness and high q u a l i t y of t h e woodwork on both t h e i n t e r i o r and e x t e r i o r of t h e house. @or a more d e t a i l e d desc r ip t ion of t h e a r c h i t e c t u r a l elements of " H i l l Grove", s e e P a r t 7).

The design of " H i l l Grove" is a t t r i b u t e d by a r c h i t e c t u r a l h i s t o r i a n R.S. Co l l ins t o t h e Davidson Brothers, a prominent Charleston f i rm of t h e e a r l y 20th century, though t h i s cannot be f i rmly es tab l i shed a t t h i s time. Wayland Davidson would have been t h e designing a r c h i t e c t . Col l ins a t t r i b u t e s t h e design t o t h i s f i m

on comparisons with e x i s t i n g Kanawha County r e s i d e n t i a l landmarks of t h e same period and knowledge of t h e a r c h i t e c t u r a l h i s t o r y of t h e area , e spec ia l ly t h e f a c t t h a t " H i l l Grove" is, a r c h i t e c t u r a l l y , a "duplicate" of t h e house (now demolished) of prominent Charleston merchant Charles K. Payne, known t o be i n c lose proximity t o o the r Charleston res idences designed by t h e Davidson Brothers.

2. ! ' H i l l Grove" was const ructed i n e i t h e r 1900 o r e a r l y 1901 (more probably t h e e a r l i e r year) by W i l l i a m E. Mohler f o r use a s h i s p r i n c i p a l residence. W i l l i a m E. Mohler (1852-1935) was a n ind iv idua l with many and d ive rse f i n a n c i a l i n t e r e s t s , as w e l l as being a c t i v e i n c i v i c and phi lanthropic endeavors. Founder and pres ident of t h e Mohler Lumber Company, he a l s o s a t on t h e board of d i r e c t o r s of severa l a r e a banks and had l a r g e f i n a n c i a l i n t e r e s t s i n numerous a rea business concerns, including presidency of the S a i n t Albans Water and Electric Company. Indeed, h i s t o r i a n Laidly (see P a r t 9) a t t r i b u t e d much of t h e r . * ,. p r o s p e m UL he Sa iu AIWcl~~au E. Y d f t . . .- -

Nobler's f i n a n c i a l i n t e r e s t s were not , however, l imi ted t o t h e Saint Albans area, a s h i s business deal ings extended t o mining i n t e r e s t s i n Mexico. as ill a rove" was one of

Continuation sheet Item number * Page 2

t h i r t e e n p r i v a t e r e s idences i n S a i n t Albans t h a t were owned by M r . Mohler.

W i l l i a m E. Mohler was a l s o a c t i v e i n l o c a l p o l i t i c s , and served for two decades a s a Republican member of t h e S a i n t Albans C i ty Council. H e was widely known f o r h i s many c h a r i t a b l e and ph i l an th rop ic a c t i v i t i e s .

A f t e r t h e dea th of William E. Mohler i n 1935 the house was occupied f o r s e v e r a l y e a r s by h i s widow, Mary Alexander Mohler, who moved from t h e house around 1940 due t o f a i l i n g h e a l t h ,

During World --..Wak:'II: " H i l l Grove" w a s l e a s e d t o t h e Nat iona l .Youth Assoc ia t ion , who used i t a s housing f o r 95 young women who were working a t t h e Naval O r d h n c e P l a n t i n South Charleston.

I n 1947 t h e house w a s occupied by Ruth Mohler P h i l l i p s , youngest daughter of W i l l i a m E. Mohler, and her husband Colonel Walter C. P h i l l i p s . The P h i l l i p s ' had been marr ied i n " H i l l Grove" i n t h e 1920's. Walter C. P h i l l i p s is a n i n d i v i d u a l s i g n i f i c a n t t o American h i s t o r y , i n t h a t he s e r v e d - a s Chief of S t a f f t o U.S. Army General W i l l i a m Shor t a t P e a r l Harbor, Hawaii, and, w a s s e rv ing i n t h a t p o s i t i o n on December 7, 1941 when P e a r l Harbor was a t t a c k e d by t h e Japqnese. Colonel P h i l l i p s played a conspicuous p a r t i n t h a t event , which c a t a p u l t e d t h e United S t a t e s i n t o World War 11.

A f t e r t h e d e a t h of Colonel P h i l l i p s i n 1964, Mrs. P h i l l i p s s o l d t h e house (1965) t o t h e Church of t h e T r i n i t y . Now t h e Covenant P re sby te r i an Church, "Hill Grove" h a s been used a s a church s i n c e 1965.

" H i l l Grove", b u i l t by t h e prominent merchant and c i v i c l e a d e r Willfam E. Mohler, i s a b u i l d i n g of noteworthy s i g n i f i c a n c e i n S a i n t Albans, West V i r g i n i a and is, j u s t l y , regarded a s a "landmark" by most of t h e c i t y ' s community.

united States Depi - Pfatianal Park Senriel

- . . a - " " ~ W L 7 - u V I O ; EXP . 12 /3 1/84

Continuation sheet Item number 8 Paae 3

The Mohler, W i l l i a m E., House, of S t . Nbans , Kanawha County, West Virginia, was b u i l t from plans produced by t h e a r c h i t e c t u r a l f i rm of -- Yost and Packard of Columbus, Ohio. An earlier a t t r i b u t i o n of t h e house t o t h e f irm of Davidson Brothers of Charleston, is i n error.

The Mohler House .is known t o be t h e twin of t h e Charleston home of turn-of- the-century m f f c b n t Charles K. Payne. This f a c t is es tabl ished by a p i c t u r e of t h e a r c h i t e c t u r a l rendering of t h e Payne House appearing i n the Charleston Century Chronicle of 1901 (a c i t y d i rec to ry) . Comparisonof cur ren t photographs of t h e . Mohler House w i t h t h i s Century Chronicle rendering, and o r a l h i s t o r y da ta provided by Mrs. Lee K e n n a of Charleston (March 1983), a granddaughter of W i l l i a m E. Nohler, firmly e s t a b l i s h e s t h e h i s t o r i c a l and des ign r e l a t i o n s h i p between t h e two houses. The Payne House, demolished i n t h e mid-20th century, was b u i l t i n 1897 from the plans of the Columbus, Ohio, a r c h i t e c t u r a l f i rm of Yost and Packard. Floor p lans surviving from t h e cons t ruc t ion d a t e of t h e Payne House and obtained recen t ly by Mrs. Kenna, document t h e d a t e of design and the a r c h i t e c t .

The o r i g i n a l Payne House plans were obtained from M r . Payne by personal f r i e n d William E. Mohler about 1900. Mohler h i red h i s own bui lder and duplicated t h e Payne House us ing t h e Yost and Packard plans. According t o family reco l l ec t ions , t h i s iuc ident angered t h e a r c h i t e c t s who received no remuneration f o r t h e use of t h e i r plans.

Arch i t ec t s Yost (Joseph Warren, 1847-1923) and Packard (Frank L.) were partnered from 1891 u n t i l about 1900 i n a f i rm operat ing ou t of a c e n t r a l o f f i c e i n Columbus, Ohio. Yost and Packard found a ready market f o r t h e i r s e r v i c e s i n West V i r - g i n i a and obtained major commissions throughout the s t a t e during t h e 1890's.

Bibliography

Century Chronicle, 1901. (Charleston, West Virginia City Directory) Interview: Rodney Col l ins and Mrs. Lee Kenna, March 8, 1983. Wodehouse, Lawrence. American Archi tec ts from t h e C i v i l War t o the^

F i r s t World War. De t ro i t , Mich.: Gale Research Co., 1976. ---

9: Major Bibliographicat References -

E l l i s , Garland H., Sa in t Albans; West Virginia , It 's Origin and Development, Dawson - - Pr in t ing Co., S a i n t Albans, WVa., 1977.

Hereford, H.R., Early History of Saint Albans, C.D. Hereford, Sa in t Blbans, WVa., 1950. History of West Virginia and West Virginia Biography, American H i s t o r i c a l Society, . - - -

10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominatedproperty 250' x3 00'

Quadrangle name Saint Quadrangle scale 1 : 24 000'

UMT References

Verbal boundary description and justification The W i l l i a m '&. Mohler House occupies t h e c e n t e r o f two c i t y l o t s , d e s i g n a t e d S t . A l b a n s C i t y L o t s 1 5 7 a n d 1 5 7 . 0 1 . The p r o p e r t y i s s i t u a t e d o n t h e s o u t h w e s t c o r n e r o f t h e i n t e r s e c t i o n o f

List all states and countias for properties overlapping state or county boundaries

state A code county code v

state code countv

- -

code

1 1. Form Prepared BY - - - - - --

M . V ~ F g Saint Albans

nameltitle P I J - P R I I I P V . ~ i q t n r i a n . and W. Neil Richardson. res ident-His tor ica l Societ Hi%ric presenrition Unit and Rodney S. Coll ins , Arch i t ec tu ra l His to r i an

organization Department of Culture and His tory date December 1, 1982

street & number The Cul tu ra l Center, Capitol Complex telephone 304/ 348-0240

citv or town Charleston state. 'West Vi rg in ia 25305

12. State Historic Preservation, Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is:

- national -- state - X local

As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89- 665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the Natipnal Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and-procedures set forth by the Na Ma1 ~&k.~er$ce. . . - P 1 f

I State Historic Preservation Officer signature

- / / t I - / / /

-

- NPS F o v 10900-a * (7.81) .

United States Department of the Interior National Park Service

)National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form

Continuation sheet Item number Page 2

Major Bibliographical References

New York and Chicago, 1923. Laidley, W.S., His tory of Charleston Kanawha County,. Richmond -

Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, Ill., 1911. Murad, Vonajean, "History of t h e Mohler House", unpublished paper,

H i s t o r i c Preservat ion Unit F i l e , WVa, Department of Cul ture & History, Charleston, 1982.

"Oral Interview wi th Rodney S. Col l ins , a r c h i t e c t u r a l historian':, by Michael J. Pauley, Charleston, Wa., Nov. 5, 1982.

Toland, John, The Rising Sun; t h e Decline and F a l l of t h e Janpanese - Empire, 1936-1945, New York, Random House, 1970.

United States Department of the Interior National Park Service

) National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form

W i l l i a m E. M o h l e r House ,

I t e m 1 0 , V e r b a l B o u n d a r y D e s c r i p t i o n a n d J u s t i f i c a t i o n

P e n n s y l v a n i a Avenue (N-S) a n d Kanawha T e r r a c e ( E - W ) . The p r o p e r t y e x t e n d s 2 5 0 f e e t f r o m s a i d i n t e r s e c t i o n s o u t h a l o n g t h e w e s t s i d e of P e n n s y l v a n i a A v e n u e ; t o - t h e e n d o f t h e i r o n r a i l f e n c e ; t h e n c e 300 f e e t d e e p ( w e s t ) ; t h e n c e 250 f e e t n o r t h t o Kanawha T e r r a c e ; t h e n c e 300 f e e t e a s t a l o n g Kanawha T e r r a c e t o i t s i n t e r s e c t i o n w i t h P e n n s y l v a n i a Avenue.

SCALE 1:24 000 1 ,.

1 - - - I * u I 1

MN, -

loo0 0 1m 2000 3 m 4000 5000 6000 7000FEET ' GN W c r u 1 I 4 b I A

5 0 1 KILOMETER i

3%. 62 MILS CONTOUR INTERVAL 20 FEET

9 MILS 10-FOOT CONTOURS DATUM IS MEAN SEA LEVEL

5 b v u a

THIS MAP COMPLIES WITH NATIONAL MAP ACCURACY STANDARDS

FOR SALE BY U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, WASHINGTON. D.C. 20242

/&. 7h , A FOLDER DESCRIBING TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS A N D SYMBOLS IS AVAILABLE O N REQUEST