Deerfield Township
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From the Cincinnati Enquirer 2-29-2009
King Mansion on register of historic places
The King Mansion has earned Deerfield Township the distinction of a listing on the National Register of Historic Places. A letter from the Ohio Historical Society and Ohio Historic Preservation Office informed Deerfield that the National Park Service and the United States Department of the Interior on December 19, 2008 awarded the designation to the Ahimaaz King House and Carriage House at 1720 East King Avenue.
The award comes after months of careful planning by members of the Community Development Department and Sullebarger Associates. In August, members of the Ohio Historic Site Preservation Advisory Board voted to recommend to the State Historic Preservation Officer that the nomination for the Ahimaaz King House be forwarded to the Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places, who directs the program for the U.S. Department of the Interior, for her consideration. The National Register lists places that should be preserved because of their significance in American history, architecture archaeology, engineering and culture.
Built in 1885, the King House was nominated to the National Register for its association with local industrialist Ahimaaz King (1839-1909) and for its architectural significance as an example of the 19th century Italianate style. The architects of the house were Luther Peters and Silas Reese Burns, who were in practice together in Dayton from 1881 to 1907.
King was manager of the King Powder Company, as well as the related Peters Cartridge Company, from their founding in 1877 and 1887, respectively, until he died in 1909. Located on opposite banks of the Little Miami River in Warren County, the two manufacturing establishments were amoung the largest of their kind in their day, and the entire village of Kings Mills was built to house their employees. The Ahimaaz King House was the first house built in the new company town, at the head of King Avenue. The King House remained in the family until 1988, when it was sold by grandson J.W. King.
The nomination was prepared by Beth Sullebarger, of Sullebarger Associates, a well-known historic preservation consultant and former executive director of the Cincinnati Preservation Association.
- Fran Klatte, Deerfield Township
