Architects Joseph Yost and Frank Packard in Ohio: Fairfield, Morgan, Muskingum and Perry Counties
PLEASE NOTE: The blog contains quite a few pictures so give it several minutes to download. They download haphazardly.
This blog showcases the known designs of Columbus architects Joseph Warren Yost & Frank Lucius Packard in Fairfield, Morgan, Muskingum and Perry Counties of Ohio. These two architects were in partnership during the years 1892-1899; each practiced separately before and after this period of time. The history of these structures has not been studied. The blog’s purpose is to generate local appreciation of these treasures, inspire research/promotion of them, and save/value those that remain. The Yost & Packard firm, nationally recognized, would likely be considered one of Ohio’s most significant.
A few comments regarding this blog:
The trek to southern Fairfield County to photograph two buildings at the defunct Boys’ Industrial School proved to be a tad unsettling. The road leading to it dead ends at the hill on which those buildings stand. I was not expecting to be on camera and about to be asked to leave. I explained my mission and the security guard said OK. The B.I.S. is now a medium security prison and no longer houses juveniles.
An unexpected great surprise was Joyce Harvey, retired librarian of the Fairfield County District Library, informing me of “The Shack”…a summer residence designed by Packard. Coincidentally it’s located in the same Fairfield County area as the Boys’ Industrial School. It’s a good read!!
Quite unusual to find 3 Yost designs still standing in a small town…and within a block of each other as well. Such is the case in New Lexington of Perry County. The courthouse and the jail are well maintained. Old city hall needs work and will likely be restored. There may even be a Yost house design still standing in this same area.
I would like to thank the following individuals for their assistance in contributing to this blog: Drew Cannon, Perry County Auditor; Josh Guisinger, New Lexington; Jim Hart, Corning; Joyce Harvey, Fairfield County District Library; Nainsi Houston, Chair of the Department of Library Science, Muskingum University; Cyrus Moore, Director of Baltimore Community Museum; Mitch Taylor, Curator, Muskingum County History.
Published 10/17/2022 by Don Foster. donfoster73@gmail.com
Fairfield County
Baltimore: Liberty Union School. West Washington Street. Built 1919. Designed by Packard. Razed. The communities of Baltimore and Basil sat side-by-side and each had its own high school. The schools merged in 1919 after a levy passed, but not without a fight from the electorate. It was agreed to construct the school on the dividing line with equal halves of the building on each side of that line…including the superintendent’s office. Basil eventually was absorbed by Baltimore and no longer exists in name.Bremen: Grade school. Maple Street (now School Street). Built 1912. Designed by Packard. Razed. Photo credit above picture and the two below: Baltimore Community Museum.
Hocking Township: Boys’ Industrial School.5900 Boys’ Industrial School Road. Seven buildings on the campus of the juvenile reformatory pictured above were designed by Yost & Packard circa the 1890’s. Packard later designed some of the “cottages” where the young boyslived. Comedian Bob Hope spent some time as a child here. He later made donations to the school.Designed by Yost & Packard. Demolition was started and then stopped. That will likely resume at some point.Photo credit: Fairfield County District Library.The former Administration Building sits outside the fenced prison. Partially demolished.Today this complex is a medium security prison renamed, in 1980, the Southeastern Correctional Institution. Three old buildings are outside the fence.One old building inside the fenced complex is visible above. The rest of the original reformatory buildings inside the fence may be gone.This building, designed by Yost & Packard, was known as the Drill Hall and is in the National Register of Historic Places.It’s outside the fenced complex.As it looks today.😦The Drill Hall above as viewed from the former partially-demolished Administration Building.The chapel was designed by Yost & Packard. Razed.Portfolio of Architectural Realities, Yost & Packard’s circa 1898 promotional publication, lists 7 Y&P designs for the Boys’ Industrial School. In addition to the 3 previously pictured, the others are a “School Building and Dormitory”, a “Cottage”, a “Conservatory”, and a “Cold Storage Building.” The chapel can be seen in the distance above, but perhaps the first 2 buildings are Y&P designs. Each cottage housed 40 boys ages 10-18.Photo credit: Ohio History Connection.This is the third building outside the fenced complex. Not sure who designed it. Note the Ohio State University Block “O” at the top. 🙂When it opened in 1857, the reformatory was called the State Reform Farm. The name changed to Boys’ Industrial School in 1884. It changed again, in 1964, to the Fairfield School for Boys.The pumping station above certainly looks like a Yost & Packard design. Perhaps it is. It’s been razed, but the matching low stone wall preventing the road above from collapsing still stands. It’s just above the blue roof of the shed pictured above…and enlarged below. Due to being watched on camera while I was taking pictures, I didn’t want to press my luck. So upon exiting I passed on stopping in the middle of the road to take a photograph of it.
Hocking Township: William Frederick and Jennie Kelsey Burdell summer residence (aka “The Shack”). Near Jacob’s Ladder Overlook, Christmas Rocks State Nature Preserve. Built 1905. Designed by Packard. This article of the Fairfield Heritage Quarterly provided by Joyce Harvey.As stated above, Burdell was a founder of the Scioto Valley Traction Company. Packard designed a number of SVTC structures including the homebase depot in downtown Columbus. So this connection likely led to his being selected as architect of the Burdell summer home.
The Columbus Dispatch 11/10/1945.
Lancaster: First Presbyterian Church. 222 North Broad Street. Built 1892. Designed by Yost. Razed and replaced. Photo credit: Fairfield County District Library.Lancaster: Hocking Valley, Cincinnati and Muskingum Valley RR depot. South Maple Street. Built 1899.Designed by Yost & Packard. Razed.Photo credit: Fairfield County District Library.The Columbus Dispatch 7/22/1899.Lancaster: Kirn Block. 107 South Columbus Street. Built 1909/10 for Christopher Frederick Kirn, president of Farmers & Citizens Bank. Designed by Packard. Today houses various businesses on the ground floor and Canal Place Senior Apartments on the upper floors.Lancaster Daily Eagle 5/13/1909. Photo credit: Joyce Harvey.Christopher Frederick Kirn and family. Photo credit: Joyce Harvey.
Lancaster: Ohio Flint Glass Company. Built 1899. Designed by Yost & Packard. Razed. Furnace room below. Photo credit: Fairfield County District Library.Lockville: Jefferson Springs Water Company bottling plant. Built 1909. Razed. Based on the above blurry photo caption, perhaps it was owned by the Scioto Valley Traction Company. The SVCT ran an interurban line from home base in Columbus to Lancaster and another to Chillicothe. Among other Packard SVTC designs werethe interurban depot in Chillicotheand, in Columbus, the interurban depot and traction yard structures. Photo credit: Fairfield County District Library.The Columbus Dispatch 12/26/1909.The Columbus Dispatch 6/30/1910.Rushville: grade/high school. Built 1919. Designed by Packard. Razed. Photo credit: Fairfield County District Library.
Morgan County
McConnelsville: Morgan County Children’s Home. Built circa 1880’s. Designed by Yost. Destroyed by fire in 1913.
Muskingum County
Frazeysburg: High school. Built 1914. Designed by Packard. Razed.Packard designed four buildings for Muskingum of which three were built. The University has historically maintained a relationship with the Presbyterian Church. Packard designed a church of this denomination adjacent to the campus. All still stand.The Columbus Dispatch 11/2/1911.New Concord: Brown Hall at Muskingum University. Built 1912. Named for J.M. Brown of Wheeling, West Virginia, a benefactor and longtime Board of Trustees member.The American Contractor 5/1/1915.The library was to serve both Muskingum and the local community, but plans were dropped in 1916 when fund-raising did not reach its goal.New Concord: Montgomery Hall at Muskingum University. Administration and classrooms. Built 1921. Named for Dr. John Knox Montgomery, Sr., president 1904-1931.Should have visited campus after the leaves dropped in fall. So Montgomery Hall has been pieced together. 🙂New Concord: Women’s Dormitory. Later renamed Patton Hall. Built 1922. Named for Emma Patton Montgomery, wife of President Dr. John Knox Montgomery, Sr.The new dormitory under construction.Saw this on Ebay when searching Muskingum and New Concord. Unusual to see a professor featured on a postcard.New Concord: United Presbyterian Church. 2 West High Street. Built 1922.
Trinway: Depot. Built 1900. Designed by Y&P. Razed.Arrival at Zanesville…famous for its Y bridge.Zanesville: John McIntire Children’s Center. Blue Avenue. Built 1880. Designed by Yost. Razed. Photo credit: Muskingum County History.Photo credit:John McIntire Library, Zanesville.Zanesville: Grover Cleveland Junior High School. Cooper Mill Road. Built 1924. Designed by Packard. Razed. Photo credit: Muskingum County History.
Zanesville: Theodore Roosevelt Junior High School. Roosevelt Avenue. Built 1925. Designed by Packard. Razed. Photo credit: Muskingum County History.Zanesville: Grant & Black Block. 334 Main Street. Built 1888. Designed by Yost. Photo credit: Muskingum County History.Per an article in The Times Recorder (Zanesville) 8/28/1960: A real estate company purchased the Grant building in 1957, and “the new owners removed the two top stories and completely remodeled and modernized the two remaining floors.” This is how it looks today.
Portion of obituary, The Times Recorder 11/23/1910.
The Times Recorder 11/4/1910.
Zanesville: Alexander and Anna Black Grant residence. 1050 Maple Avenue. Built 1894. Designed by Yost. In the process of being razed in 1962 as shown. Photo credit: Muskingum County History.
The Times Recorder 11/23/1910.
Portion of obituary, The Times Recorder 11/23/1910.
Zanesville: Clarence Sumner and Elizabeth Warnock Vandenbark residence. 1024 Culbertson Avenue. Built circa 1902. Designed by Packard.Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
The Times Recorder (Zanesville) 5/12/1905.
The Times Recorder (Zanesville) 5/18/1905.
Before we leave Muskingum County…
Excellent museum and definitely worth a visit!! Located on U.S. Rt. 40, the National Road, east of Zanesville.
In the same vicinity as the museum is a preserved stretch of the original National Road right off today’s U.S. Rt. 40. Watch for the signs and take a drive on it.
Perry County
Corning: George W. and Ida White Sailor residence. 122 North Valley Street. Built circa 1904. Designed by Packard.American Craftsman style architecture became popular in the early 20th century. Packard was a fan of this design. The Sailor house has Craftsman features including the deep overhanging eaves, dark brick and the front porch.
The Ohio Democrat 8/3/1905.
The Athens Messenger 9/8/1934.
Crooksville: Crooksville High School. South State Street. Designed by Packard in 1904 per the Ohio Architect and Builder, but not built until 1906. Razed.The high school was also referred to as the East Side School. The real photo postcard above matches the entryway of the high school building. Based on the young faces, it must have housed elementary age students at some point.Crooksville High School aka East Side School.The above history appears in an old Crooksville High School yearbook. Efforts to find an updated history were not successful. Photo credit: Perry County District Library.Crooksville: West Side School. Cemetery Road. Built 1906. Designed by Packard in 1904 per the Ohio Architect and Builder, but not built until 1906.TodayWest Side School is abandoned.Real photo postcard of Crooksville students, but not sure where this was taken.The abandoned Crooksville school building on the left above is similar to the Bremen elementary school building (on right) that appears earlier in the blog. Perhaps it’s a Packard design.Junction City: grade/high school. Built 1907/08. Designed by Packard. Razed.
Thought this description was interesting. The Columbus Dispatch 4/28/1907.
New Lexington: Perry County Courthouse. South Main Street. Built 1886-88. Designed by Yost.Photo credit: Perry County District Library.Photo credit: Ohio Historical Compendium, Facebook.Courthouse in the middle. Real photo postcard.New Lexington: Perry County Jail. West Brown Street. Built 1887. Designed by Yost. Photo credit: Ohio Historical Compendium, Facebook.The Columbus Dispatch 7/15/1886.New Lexington: City Hall. South Main Street. Built 1887. Designed by Yost.Restoration of the former City Hall has been proposed.
New Lexington: chapel for Saint Aloysius Academy. 5375 Tile Plant Road. A new and larger chapel was designed by Yost and built in 1892. The Academy complex pictured above and below has been razed.The above photo and the two below are Yost’s chapel addition. Photo credit: Ohio Historical Compendium, Facebook.New Lexington: Maurice Herbert and Martina Johnson Donahue residence. Main Street. Built between 1893 and 1900 per the house footprint on Sanborn Fire Insurance maps. Location was one block to the north of the courthouse on the same side of the street. Likely designed by Yost. Razed. Photo credit: The Book of Perry County.
Photo credit:Find-a-Grave.
The Columbus Dispatch 9/12/1928.
The Columbus Dispatch 9/12/1928.
New Lexington: Lawson Aquila and Augusta Achauer Tussing residence. Main Street. Built circa 1895. Likely designed by Yost. Location remains a mystery. Could it be one of these two houses below located on North Main Street? Perhaps a reader of this blog will provide the answer.
Wow, what an amazing virtual experience! Thank you for this interesting history lesson! I learned a lot and remembered a lot. Great work on your part. What a treasure!
I was reminded of another Monroe Co connection when reading about Bob Hope. Rocker, David Alan Co, who is fr Antioch [Monroe Co] spent time in the same facility.
Have we discussed a possible Washington Co Yost connections? Being the oldest in the state & the 1st Permanent Settlement of the NW Territory, some of Yosts designs remind me very much of those in my home town [Marietta].
Histories and Mysteries 
Well, I just stopped working and read thru your post….wonderful photos and history.
Unbelievable information
Thank you
Sherry Riviera
24 Montrose , Delaware
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Thanks for reading!!
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Wow, what an amazing virtual experience! Thank you for this interesting history lesson! I learned a lot and remembered a lot. Great work on your part. What a treasure!
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Thank you very much, Dianne!! Your comments are much appreciated!! Don
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I really enjoyed reading your blog as always. I didn’t know that Frank Packard designed the US Embassy in Brazil. Interesting.
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Thanks for reading!!
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Always enjoy!
I was reminded of another Monroe Co connection when reading about Bob Hope. Rocker, David Alan Co, who is fr Antioch [Monroe Co] spent time in the same facility.
Have we discussed a possible Washington Co Yost connections? Being the oldest in the state & the 1st Permanent Settlement of the NW Territory, some of Yosts designs remind me very much of those in my home town [Marietta].
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