Center Street home full of history

Sharon Stitzlein Published:

Kyle Von Kamp, a history teacher at Willard High School, and R.J. Torres, a flight attendant for Continental Airlines, have purchased the house at 603 Center St. Their plan is to restore it as nearly as possible to the original appearance. They also would like to hear from the descendants of Capt. Joseph Brinton and his wife Lydia Pennington Brinton, the original owners. As R. J. said, You can buy a house or you can buy a house and the history that goes with it. They chose the latter. Today, we will focus on the ways in which they went about getting background information. Next week, well talk about all the changes they already have made in the few months since they have lived there. Their search began at the Historical Museum where they learned Alta Sims researched the homes on Center Street that led to their acceptance on the National Register of Historic Places. She learned the Brintons came here in the 1870s when Capt. Brinton was appointed the station agent at the Erie Depot. The museum also had a copy of the part of Mary Brinton Tubbs memoirs of her life while living in Ashland. She was one of the four daughters of Capt. and Mrs. Lydia Pennington Brinton. Tubbs sister married P.W. Litchfield, who became president of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. Helen Smiley Dexter had given the memoirs to the museum and explained that Florence Brinton Litchfield and her chauffeur had brought them to her home. Helen explained that her mother, Carrie, and the Brinton girls were childhood playmates. The men began to study the memoirs in which she had listed the names of children and grandchildren. Through the Internet using Google and lots of perseverance, Von Kamp found an article mentioning the Florence B. Litchfield Memorial Library. He then found another article mentioning Edith Litchfield Denny, who with her husband was donating funds for a medical museum in Litchfield Park, Ariz. He did an Internet White Pages search and called a number getting Mrs. Dennys daughter, Julia Litchfield Sweeney, who said her mother had passed away and, after hearing their mission, put them in touch with Brinton Hyde of Fairlawn. They called him and the following Sunday, he, his wife and two sons came to the family homestead and brought the sword his great-grandfather had used in the Civil War as well as the regimental sword his men had given him. He also had pictures and a complete copy of Mary Brintons memoirs and promised to send a copy. In studying the memoirs, Von Kamp read that pictures of the rooms of the house had been taken before it was sold after Mrs. Brinton died in 1927. Copies were provided for each of the sisters. Since it was common to use Brinton as a middle name and there was a James Tubbs, the men began to call a list and on the sixth try got the one who confirmed his middle name was Brinton and he knew about the captain and Lydia but not much more. Several weeks later, they searched for Richard Brinton Mila De La Roca, great-grandson of the captain. On the first call they got the right person, and after assuring him this wasnt a telemarketing call, he was most agreeable. He did indeed have a copy of the memoirs and an album showing the pictures of the rooms. He would be willing to send them with the understanding if the house were sold the pictures remain. He also would bring other albums when he comes to Ohio later this summer from his home in California. A few days later, the pictures arrived and have proved to be most successful in showing what doorways have been eliminated and staircases had been relocated. They hope to replace the exterior tower but have found only one picture in the 1895 Ashland Advertising Gazette. In the few months the men have lived in the house they already have made numerous changes which will be described in next weeks article.

Want to leave your comments?

Sign in or Register to comment.