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

Chapter 29 Later FamiliesAhrens is a well known name associated with fire engine construction. While the founder, ChristopherAhrens, lived in Corryville, members of his family lived at the house on the corner of Cary and ElktonAvenues and on Meis and Harbison Avenues. Christopher Ahrens’ children were John V. Ahrens, Mrs.Charles Fox, Mrs. George W. Krapp, Mrs. Florence Meyer and Miss Christine Ahrens. Ahrens’granddaughter, Betty Meyer, was a lifelong teacher at Clifton Elementary School.Aiken 14 Three busts are in the foyer of Music Hall, usually unrecognized and unread. One is of ReubenR. Springer, a dry goods merchant and philanthropist who donated the funds to start construction ofMusic Hall, one is of the New York Philharmonic orchestra conductor Theodore Thomas who conductedthe first May Festival, and one is of Charles Aiken who was once the Superintendent of Music in theCincinnati Public Schools.Born in 1818 in New Hampshire, Charles Aiken traveled in Kentucky and Pennsylvania as a bardafter his graduation from Dartmouth College in 1838. He came to Cincinnati for the first time in 1839 butmoved to St. Louis where he was a choral director and music teacher. Professor Aiken returned toCincinnati in 1842 to be the successor of William Colburn, the first music teacher in the public schools.Aiken’s first assignment in the schools was teaching music, only a part time job. To augment hissalary he also taught Greek and Latin to seminary students. After several months, his music position withthe public schools became full time. His choral musical work had procured much acclaim and respect andhe was appointed Superintendent of Music (1867-1879). He also became partly responsible for the MayFestival. He raised $3,000 from the public school students to complete the construction of Music Hall. Hewrote music books and musical scores throughout his life. He died in 1882 and was buried in SpringGrove Cemetery.Charles was married to Martha Stanley Merrill (1832-1895). They had six children: Walter Harriswho married Lucy Bakewell Avery; Louis Ellsworth married Nancy Irwin; Alice Cordelia who marriedCharles H. Avery; Carrie Dewing who married Thomas Bagley; Susan Merrill, wife of Henry Pounsford,and Herbert Pinkerton who married Laura Emerson (1947). Lucy and Charles Avery were brother andsister.Walter Harris Aiken (1858-1935) held the position as Director of Music some years later. He startedhis career in 1867 as organist in the first pig eye school in College Hill and was active in teaching musicuntil his death in 1952. He married Lucy Avery (1862-1936), daughter of Dr. Charles Avery, and theyhad three children; Gwendolyn Bakewell Aiken (married Powel Crosley, Jr.), Walter Avery Aiken(1891-1952, married Opal Winter) and Victor Audubon Aiken (1897-1962, married Norma Quitter). Walterbuilt a home on the corner of Hamilton Avenue and Aster Place that is still there today.Louis E. Aiken (1861-1949, married Nancy Irwin), graduated from Farmers’ College in 1879, taughtmusic at Hughes High School and supervised the music for College Hill Presbyterian Church. His homein Mt. Healthy was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Sadly, this house on Hamilton Avenue wasdemolished to make way for the recent Cross County Highway expansion.Herbert P. Aiken was a graduate of Farmers’ College, and a violinist who also taught in the publicschool system. He left teaching and joined the Dodd, Werner & Co., and later the R. F. Johnston PaintCompany as treasurer. Herbert married Laura Emerson and they owned “Old Acres,” a farm near Fernaldin New Baltimore.Aiken High School opened September 4, 1962 and was named in honor of Charles, Walter andLouis.14 From information supplied by Jack O’Neil176