A Little piece of Paradise… College Hill, Ohio - SELFCRAFT

Chapter 15 Six Acres, A Hidden History DiscoveredFor many years this house that sits back from easy view, was owned by the Schaeffer family.When they left, the property sat abandoned. By the time Kristin Kitchens, the current owner, tooknotice the building’s interior has been stripped of woodwork, including a collapsed main the staircase,and it was slated for demolition. Kristin would see this house every Sunday as she drove to church.Her curiosity led her to one Sunday go up the long driveway and look around. Even in this sadcondition she could envision the house renovated, so she purchased the house in April 2001. Therestoration was complete in 2004 as a bed and breakfast. The property is six acres in size and wasoriginally built and owned by Zebulon Strong between 1850 and 1860. It was deeded to his son, Elon,in 1875 at Zebulon’s death. Kristin uncovered this information herself to document the house. TheCollege Hill Historical Society had nothing about this site in its files. She has visited the house yearsbefore when it was the home of a high school friend and never forgot the story of its history that shewas told.While it was being restored a room was found under the patio. Keran Seagraves Smith, whoonce played in the house that was in her family, remembers a tunnel that was later behind the coalpile. Kristin found a small, bare room under the eaves of the third floor that looks to never have beentouched since it was built. In the floor, to the left of the window a deeply inscribed circle has beenmade in the dark wooden floor. Kristin has been told that this was a healing circle that dated to thetime that this house was used in the Underground Railway. She has left the room untouched as amemorial to those that passed through her house on their way to freedom.And what is an old house without a ghost? A tall, thin fair-skinned African American womandressed in a long shirt with an apron has been seen in the dining room and bedroom. She is simplyseen with no other manifestations.The house has 6,500 sq. feet, five bedrooms and five bathrooms, nineteen rooms total, allbeautifully furnished. It has been rented for wedding receptions, seminars and cooking classes, inaddition to staying there as a guest. Each of the five bedrooms has the name of a grandmother of oneof the staff members. Its elegance yet with a comfortable feel, has been named “The Best ofCincinnati” by Cincinnati CityBeat magazine.A true preservationist, Kristin wants to purchase the one acre property next door that hadbelonged to Charles Aiken. She plans to call it the “7 th Acre.”If you would like to stay there or see the property for yourself, please contact: Kristin Kitchens,541-0873.Old Photo of Six Acres112