Going, Going...

Demolition started recently on the Dennison Hotel building.

Here's what it used to look like.

And on the north face:

Don't hesitate to capture a ghost sign. You don't know how long it's got.

Revisiting the Dennison

When we're asked about our favorite ghost signs, we include the Dennison Hotel, with its odd room-to-bath ratio. We've featured it many times here, looking at the sign on the south, the hanging signs on the front, and the Quaker Oats ad on the north.

But the other day we noticed something else.

Below the Bill Haas signature, there's something else.

We can't remember if we've noticed it before and hadn't mentioned it, but if we have, it's worth seeing again.

Promo

A fellow we know has written a book on a topic near and dear to our hearts.

We think you can guess what it is.

It comes out November 30, with a party at Igby's.

We haven't seen an advance copy, but we're sure it'll make a great Christmas gift.

(And not just because this site is mentioned.)

(Another) Another Revisit

 

 

I was interviewed recently for an article on ghost signs.  (When it's published, I'll let you know where to find it.)  One of the questions was "do you have a favorite?"  I have several, and the Dennison Hotel sign, as seen from 7th and Main, is among them.  (Oddly enough, no-one's written a Yelp review.)

It's one of the first ghost signs that caught my eye Downtown, and one of the first in this blog.

And earlier this year, I was looking at it again.  (The good ones always bring me back.)  That's when I noticed that the artist, Bill Haas, apparently painted over another ghost sign.

 

Hard to say what the first sign said, especially because I'm finding conflicting histories of the building.  One guy on flickr says it started out as an infirmary at the end of the Civil War, and another site claims it was built in 1890, as an iron foundry.  One says it's eight stories, another says nine.  And so far, my go-to site for historical Cincinnati hasn't covered it yet.

 

(Updated again, 2-14-13)

 

While my focus has been on Mr. Haas' work, there are other ghost sign features on this building.

 

 

The awning over the door has the remnants of Dennison, and above that, painted over in red:

 

We learn that not only did the Hotel Dennison have 105 rooms, but only 60 baths, but it was also air-conditioned.