Village

Masonry: Otto Kadon and son Karl were the region’s finest stone masons. They completed the stonework for the church, carillon, boathouse, concourse, hospital, Short Group (Oak Street), McKenzie Group (Beech/ Murray), and the Recreation Hall. They exquisitely implemented de Gersdorff’s vision, as seen in the stonework, down to the very last detail. The building’s brick was manufactured at Mitchell Brick Company, which operated in Delhi, Ohio until 1950. The more you look, the more ornamental subtleties you will discover in the expert craftsmanship of the stone and brick masons.

On the building’s east side, a terrace overlooking the stadium area was never completed. A pedestrian tunnel was built into the building’s south end to ensure safe passage for kids crossing Plainville Road. Its entrance (now filled with concrete) can be seen from a storage room on the building’s rear side.

The Thomas J. Emery Memorial Recreation Building was dedicated with much fanfare at a ceremony on May 17, photographs courtesy of Mariemont Preservation Foundation.

1930. George de Gersdorff designed a unique building by skillfully combining classical styles. He patterned symmetrical and repeating forms into a balanced yet asymmetrical structure. Similarly, he mixed a variety of materials in a beautiful, artistic manner. The structure’s bones of steel, reinforced concrete, brick, and stone were built to last hundreds of years. He demonstrated contentment and humility as shown in his reply to the Mariemont Messenger. Thank you, Mary Emery, for this amazing gift.

The next installment in this series features the building’s interior and activities over the years.

Photos by Steve Spooner

Congratulations to Coach Mike Haney and the MHS Lady Warriors soccer team who were crowned CHL champs in October! The team (pictured below) had a regular season record of 12-1-2 (W-L-T). They won three games in the playoffs and were undefeated in the CHL, with victories against everyone except for a tie with Madeira. And to top it off, the final game marked Coach Mike Haney’s 300th career victory!

Mariemont Elementary School held its annual Halloween Parade indoors this year due to inclement weather. But that didn’t stop the students from donning their favorite costumes and having a fun time!

Top left: Fifth graders Catherine Keller (cowgirl) and Anna Ross (red M&M).

Top right: Second graders Max Marzullo (ICEE) and Luke Murphy (chicken).

Right: Second graders Emma Wellinghoff (princess), Nora Lepa (“A lot going on…”), Vivi June Miller (alien), Finn Moore (dinosaur), and Isabella Chandler (basketball player).