Q&A: The Stewart Home
Q: When did you purchase your home?
A: August 2007
Q: What period is your home?
A: Tudor influenced
Q: When was it built?
A: 1923
Q: What struck you about that the home, that you knew you had to have it?
A: After viewing more than 50 other houses, we walked in the front door and while standing in the foyer we looked at each other and said, “this is it.” Our initial tour confirmed that thought as we fell in love with openness of the rooms and the remodeling that had been done without changing the character of the house. The house just has a good feeling about it.
Q: What are you most proud of that you have done w/your home?
A: Opened it up to friends and family as a party and meeting center. We have also worked on the landscaping to add additional color and ambiance to the exterior.
Q: What is the abbreviated history of your home?
A: It has had several owners. We are still learning about it from others in the neighborhood.
Q: What do you hope that tourists will appreciate about your home?
A: The warmth that the house exudes and all of the unique nooks and crannies that can be found throughout the house.
Q: Why is it important for historic homes to be preserved?
A: Historic homes remind us of the craftsmanship that is becoming a lost art. It seems that each house has an individual personality that is often lost in new construction. Many historic homes provide a glimpse into the past and what family life used to be like before televisions and computers became members of the family. They remind us of the chronology of our home technologies and how what is important in our everyday lives can and does change from time to time. Bedrooms get larger and smaller, the invention of the family room and many other features ebb and flow in home production.
Q: Why/how did you choose Ft. Thomas to be your home?
A: De had lived in the community once before and knew it was a nice area. We were moving from Union, Ky., to be closer to our store at Findlay Market in Cincinnati. We looked in many communities close to the river but it was just happenstance that the house we fell in love with was here.
Q: Do you have any other interesting stories/historical facts associated with your home?
A: We are currently trying to research whether Harlan Hubbard may have been one of the people who worked on the house while it was being built. The date of the construction matches the time that he was working on houses in Fort Thomas.
Q: Have you done any major renovations to your home?
A: Our home had been remodeled prior to our purchasing it. Extensive changes were made to the master suite and especially to the master bath. The changes fit well with our life style and nothing further was required.
Q: Are there any local legends about your home regarding ghosts or spirits?
A: Not that we’re aware of. We have found a hidden room. There is no door into this extra room, but there is a window in it. It is kind of creepy to think about what might be in there.
-Owners De and Susan Stewart
703 South Grand Avenue
