Earlier this evening from 6 - 9 P.M. many people came through the doors of Park + Vine to see the exhibit "Forgotten Cincinnati," which featured photographs by myself and my good friend, Sherman Cahal. I just wanted to extend a heartfelt thank you to all those who came through to view the exhibit and check out the store. It was great getting to meet new people who hadn't seen anything like this and to meet those who have been reading this site for some time. I really appreciate the support. I'd also like to thank Sherman for doing most of the planning and Dan, the owner of Park + Vine, for allowing us to set up the show and for running a fantastic store. Also thanks to Kevin, Randy, and Chris "ColDayMan" for promoting the event on their various sites! Just a reminder, in case you missed out tonight...Forgotten Cincinnati will be running from now until Feb. 26th.
Park and Vine is located at 1109 Vine St. Cincinnati, Ohio, 45202. Hours: 11-7 Monday-Saturday • 11-5 Sunday ParkandVine.com Prints available for sale at Park+Vine or by contacting me.
Some photographs from the event:
Thanks again everyone! QC/D will be back up with a new update soon... -Gordon a.k.a. Ronny
On assignment for school, I was tasked with documenting the Inauguration. You may not believe this, but there wasn't much going on in Athens, Ohio where I go to school. Not interested in traveling to fight the mob in Washington D.C., I decided to head home for the assignment.
Back in October, Cincinnati was visited by both major party candidates. Sen. John McCain and running mate Gov. Sarah Palin spoke at Lunken Airport:
Sen. Barack Obama would speak later that month at the University of Cincinnati. The election took place and Sen. Obama came out on top becoming the first African-American president-elect, a historic election.
January 19, 2009: The Martin Luther King Jr. Coalition of Cincinnati, Ohio prepares to march in remembrance of one of the most well known American civil rights activists. The march is not only a celebration of his life and work, but a victory celebration for Barack Obama who the next day would become the United State's first African-American president.
-Organizers march up Vine St. from the Freedom Center to Fountain Square.
-Dr. William Land delivers a speech at Fountain Square on Jan. 19, 2009.
-Roy Johnson, an employee at the Fountain Square Chipotle, takes a break to to photograph the march.
-Officer Vogepohl of the Cincinnati Police Department holds traffic at the corner of 6th and Vine street during the march.
-Eric Binford helped to lead the march while celebrating the Obama victory.
The march ended at Music Hall with a speech by Rev. Curtis Fuller and other programs.
Public viewing parties were planned all around Cincinnati. Fountain Square, the Museum Center and even the Freedom Center all had planned to show the Inauguration to the public. I chose to go to the Museum Center, it was inside and warm. I would find out eventually that the Freedom Center had technical problems, so the Museum Center was a good choice.
A large projection screen was situated beneath the rotunda, flanked on both sides by the murals of Cincinnati history. Droves of people crammed in as a friendly Museum Center staff allowed me to go upstairs to get an interesting perspective on the event.
I left for a few minutes to check out Fountain Square. According to weather.com on my Blackberry, the temperature was 17 degrees. Hardly anyone was outside so back to the Museum Center I went. I arrived just in time as the ceremony began. As everyone took up viewing positions one woman began to cry stating "I've been waiting for this for 70 years."
President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush were announced on screen. Many, but not all in attendance under the rotunda let out "boos." Then, as the announcer uttered the name "Bara..." the crowd stood and erupted in applause. First Biden was sworn in then it was time for Obama to take the oath. Many stood and began clapping, some even crying tears of joy.
-Danielle Thompson applauds while viewing the Inauguration of President Barack Obama at the Cincinnati Museum Center on Jan. 20, 2009.
While many stayed around to watch the Inaugural parade, I left. I made my way out of the Museum Center parking lot and over to Central Ave. to stop at "Ollie's Trolley." Ever since the Democratic Primary Campaign's started last year, I noticed that "Ollie's" had been decked out in Obama campaign posters and paraphernalia. I wanted to stop by to see how those inside were celebrating the Inauguration.
-"Ollie's Trolley" on Central Ave.
-Obama Campaign paraphernalia on the side of Ollie's.
Speaking to those inside, I found that the owner, Mr. Smith, was actually in attendance at the Inauguration in Washington D.C. Meanwhile, back home in Cincinnati his daughter, Mary, watched the live broadcast while working at "Ollie's Trolley."
-Mary Smith watches live Inauguration coverage while working at "Ollie's Trolley" on Central Ave. Her father, owner of "Ollie's Trolley" and a staunch Obama supporter, was in attendance in Washington D.C.
While I got to talk with and photograph those inside, I had to satisfy my curiosity. A year ago I had seen the Obama posters on the building and Obama won the election. I had also seen the words "World's Greatest Hamburger" printed on the side of the building, so I ordered the "Ollieburger." Ollie's Trolley makes a good burger, definitely one of the best! I'd say it ties as my personal favorite, but I also supported McCain, so I could be wrong. If you ever have the time and if you're nearby make sure you stop by for friendly service and some great food.
The rest of the day was spent driving back to Athens listening to 700 WLW after a day of documenting history happening in Cincinnai.
The former brewery's imposing smokestack can be seen from many different areas of the city, even from club seats at Paul Brown Stadium (80 dollar seats for only 25 dollars thanks to the scalper out front). I didn't venture into the city's industrial Queensgate neighborhood until a cold Wednesday after work to see it up close for myself. 700 WLW had been reporting that it was about 15 degrees outside. Having forgot my coat at work, I walked about the building in a work t-shirt, snapping this photograph while Sherrif's deputies unloaded the few remaining prisoners from the now closed Queensgate Jail just a block down.
Until 1985, this building was home to the headquarters of Cincinnati's local Hudepohl Brewing Company.
If you're from around here, you may have heard of or drank Hudepohl. If you're not from the Cincinnati area, Hudepohl probably isn't as common of a name as brands like Budweiser, Anheuser-Busch or Pabst. The reluctance of the company to stay local and not enter the national market is probably what lead to their demise, but Hudepohl was once one of many local Cincinnati breweries. Founded in 1885, Hudepohl thrived in Cincinnati, a city which at the time was home to a strong beer making tradition. The company survived Prohibition by offering non-alcoholic products and the beer was even selected by the U.S. War Department to be distributed as morale booster for American troops fighting in the Pacific Theatre. In 1946 construction was completed on a new manufacturing facility in the city's Queensgate neighborhood. Throughout the next few decades Hudepohl would compete for dominance over other local breweries in the area. As their local competitors began to close up shop due to the rise of national brands like Budwesier, Hudepohl expanded into the specialty beer market, but not the national market hoping to continue dominance over the Queen City.
A 1970's era Hudepohl commercial:
Faced by ever increasing market competition from the larger national brands, Hudepohl celebrated it's centennial anniversary in 1985 by looking for a buyer. In 1986 the company was purchased by local competitor Schoenling Brewing Company. Schoenling continued to sell the Hudepohl brand and operate the Queensgate plant. In 1987 all production of Hudepohl and Schoenling brands were moved to Schenling's Central Parkway plant, leaving the Queensgate plant and it's smokestack bearing the Hudepohl name abandoned.
According to Kevin Lemaster of Building Cincinnati, the property eventually came under the ownership of Hudepohl Square LLC, a company planning to redevelop the property, although at this time definite plans remain unclear. A partial demolition of the brewery began in summer of 2007, but was halted and the former brewery fenced off with it's future uncertain.
A Tour to the Ruins of Hudepohl
It was Friday. Possibly the last day of exploring Cincinnati for awhile for me before I went back to school. Sherman and I met up for breakfast at 8 A.M. An early start, intending to make most of the day. Following our visit to the breakfast bar at Big Boy's we drove down Linn St., the smokestack of the abandoned brewery in the distance. Pulling up to the block we passed the now closed Queensgate Jail facility. We parked the car and took a look at the brewery, getting our cameras ready for an exploration. We noticed a man in a nearby truck taking a nap. Not wanting to startle him should he wake and see two photographers taking a tour of an abandoned brewery, we decided to come back later. An hour later he was awake, but just sitting there. Another hour passed, we came back, he was gone. The tour could now begin.
We stumbled over bricks, concrete and debris as we made our way through a field where part of the building once stood. Looking up at the building was like looking back to 1945 Berlin. The place was torn up, like it had been bombed by the liberating forces of the Allies.
The building had been severed in half, leaving two structures remaining as if they were two separate buildings. Through an archway at the bottom of one structure we found some stairs leading to the brewery basement, which featured cathedral like ceilings.
Within the stone confines of the basement, it was much colder than it had been outside. We could clearly see our breath as we had a look around. On the walls and floors were relics from those who used to work down here. Old phones and lanterns, even a time-punch clock that had been manufactured in Cincinnati:
-Holders for the time-punch cards.
Hallways leading away from the basement workshop gave way to dead ends and more rooms. In one room we came across and old keg and other equipment:
Then there was this door, marked "storage."
I opened the door and found the inside of the next room to be almost pitch black, even with light creeping in from the outside. Using a flashlight I did my best to see. Before I could even take a step forward into the darkness I noticed a large, gaping hole in the metal floor. The room looked like the sunken remains of the Titanic.
It was so dark that it took 30 seconds and a flashlight to even get an exposure on the camera bright enough to see what was inside. We assumed the large metal tank on the left to be a storage or fermenting tank that once held Hudepohl brand beer. We were anxious to see more of the place, but not anxious to die. We closed the door on the dark, vast "storage" room and went on to another section of the facility.
Crossing the field of debris again, we made our way over to the second structure. This was the shipping/receiving area where bright yellow Hudepohl trucks once pulled up to receive their shipments and prepare to make deliveries.
-Entering the warehouse.
I assume this other section must have been some sort of warehouse. There wasn't anything in there that would hint it had been a brewery. This section of the building contained lawn equipment and just general junk. There were two interesting relics found inside though:
The above "Cat's Diggity Dog" vendor stand bore the University of Cincinnati emblem and the only relic of the Hudepohl brand we could find was found on a door inside the warehouse...
...a sticker bearing the logo of "Hudy Delight."
Due to the demolition and destruction of the brewery, access to the upper floors was cut off, which is a shame. I bet the top has an amazing view of the downtown skyline. We stood out on the shipping decks as the sun set, taking our last few pictures. This place had once been home to a company that dominated the Cincinnati beer market. Cincinnati had once been home to many local breweries, but like the Hudepohl Brewing Company Cincinnati's affair with beer production has faded with time. Although, there are still many breweries that produce their products here in Cincinnati. Today Hudepohl can still be bought as a specialty beer at places like Jungle Jim's in Fairfield, Ohio according to a 1999 Cincinnati Enquirer article and a friend who said he purchased some there.
One more 1970's Hudepohl commercial:
The exploration of the Ruins of the Hudepohl Brewing Company was the first Queen City Discovery of 2009 and a great way to end my Christmas break. Thanks for reading and stay tuned for many more Queen City Discovery updates in the coming weeks!
Forgotten Cincinnati was an exhibit of photographs taken by myself and Sherman Cahal. The first of it's kind, the gallery opened at Park + Vine on January 30, 2009 and ran till March 23, 2009.
The exhibit featured photographs from abandoned locations around the Tri-State that had been taken during our explorations over the years. Plans for a future updated and larger exhibition are in the works. In the meantime, you can check out my photographs that were featured in the exhibition by clicking here (opens in new window). Prints from the exhibition are still available for purchase: Framed and matted 5x7 print - $55.00 Standard 5 x 7 print - $20.00
February rolled around and I took a weekend to come back from school to meet up with Zach and do a lot of exploring. From the Cincinnati Gardens, a Cincinnati hockey barn filled with history, lacking a major tenant...
...to the Crosley Building, the original home of 700 WLW and once a major production plant for Crosley Radios. First explored in Spring 2007, this was our second trip...
The site sat idle for awhile as I got really busy with school and work. I finally did some more exploring and photography in July when we explored an abandoned CSX switch house:
In September my friend Sherman and I though it might be fun and interesting to explore Cincinnati infrastructure and get some new photographs of the city's highways and bridges:
I have a lot of stuff backlogged that hasn't been posted yet. Lots of more "abandoned" explorations from the Cincinnati area will be up shortly. Thanks everyone for reading throughout the year and for visiting the site. I promise it will be updated more often in 2009 with more.
