Columbus home designed by pioneering architect for sale
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The entryway to an East Broad Street home designed by one of Ohio's first female architects. Photos: Courtesy of Keller Williams Legacy Group Realty
Many historic homes are in the Olde Towne East neighborhood, but one with a special origin is up for sale.
- The home at 1277 E. Broad St. was designed over a century ago by Florence Kenyon Hayden Rector, one of Ohio's first female architects.
Why it matters: The East Broad Street landmark dates back to an era when local women pioneered various professions and continued the fight for equal opportunities.
Flashback: Kenyon lived in the neighborhood and attended nearby East High School.
- She designed the home during the turn of the 20th century, around when she enrolled as the first female student of Ohio State's architecture program.
- Kenyon went on to have a decades-long career working out of her home studio on Franklin Avenue.
The intrigue: Kenyon is credited with helping design the first seating plan for Madison Square Garden and Oxley Hall, OSU's first residence hall for women.
- Much to her chagrin, university trustees paired Kenyon with an older, male architect for the latter project.
- At one point, the story goes, she locked him out of their shared office to get work done in peace.
- Kenyon also designed several medical facilities as well as the dining rooms at Lazarus department store and what's now the Westin Great Southern Hotel.
Separately, Kenyon was an outspoken suffragist who supported the National Woman's Party and co-founded a local chapter of Altrusa International, an early civic group for female business professionals.
- She died in 1973 and some of her early architectural drawings were donated to the Ohio History Connection.
What they're saying: "I think she'd easily still be a role model today," said Barb Powers, a state historian, in an OSU documentary on Kenyon's life.
- "She made history happen. She broke down barriers in a male-dominated profession of architecture and she was very passionate about a number of early 20th century reform issues. What a woman!"
Zoom in: The home for sale is located about a half-mile west of Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.
- The 3,750-square-foot residence is listed for $829,000 and has four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a three-car garage.
- A recent renovation of the once-abandoned home brought in a new kitchen, brighter colors and imported lighting.
- A spacious backyard with a vined pergola and "Savannah-style garden" is an ideal setting for social gatherings, per the listing.
