History of the Charles Nelson Schmick House
Originally built during 1870-71 in the Italianate/Empire style by David A. Gerrish, the Leetonia, Ohio home now know as the "Charles Nelson Schmick House" was sold to Edwin J. Warner in 1874. Warner lived in the house for five years while he served as president of the Leetonia Iron & Coal company, the predecessor of the Cherry Valley Iron Works.
By 1879, Charles Nelson Schmick became the owner of this house. Schmick was a banker, industrialist, multi-property owner and school board member during his years in Leetonia. He and his wife Jennie Welker Schmick resided in the home with their three children until 1900, at which point they relocated to Cleveland.
It was the Schmick family who left the most lasting impression on the home. When the Schmick House was gutted by chimney fire in January of 1892, Schmick decided to rebuild it as a Victorian Queen Anne style home. He raised the back part of the house 2-1/2 feet so it became the same floor level as the second story in the front of the house, added a third floor with three rooms and a bath, 9 fireplaces, plumbing, electricity and a telephone. Schmick's other additions included Victorian gingerbread, a tower, a dome a wrap-around front porch and port cochiere (containing hundreds of spindles), stained glass and leaded glass windows, and the two-story bay window on the home's south side. In all, the home has a total of 5,700 square feet!
Priscilla Kurtz, the current owner, has a love for older homes. She purchased it in April of 2012. After seven months of what she calls TLC (Tender Loving Care), she reopened the home to the public.
By 1879, Charles Nelson Schmick became the owner of this house. Schmick was a banker, industrialist, multi-property owner and school board member during his years in Leetonia. He and his wife Jennie Welker Schmick resided in the home with their three children until 1900, at which point they relocated to Cleveland.
It was the Schmick family who left the most lasting impression on the home. When the Schmick House was gutted by chimney fire in January of 1892, Schmick decided to rebuild it as a Victorian Queen Anne style home. He raised the back part of the house 2-1/2 feet so it became the same floor level as the second story in the front of the house, added a third floor with three rooms and a bath, 9 fireplaces, plumbing, electricity and a telephone. Schmick's other additions included Victorian gingerbread, a tower, a dome a wrap-around front porch and port cochiere (containing hundreds of spindles), stained glass and leaded glass windows, and the two-story bay window on the home's south side. In all, the home has a total of 5,700 square feet!
Priscilla Kurtz, the current owner, has a love for older homes. She purchased it in April of 2012. After seven months of what she calls TLC (Tender Loving Care), she reopened the home to the public.