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By Mark Risley
Built in 1936, the unique home at 244 Schenck Ave. in
Oakwood’s Schantz Park Historic District is truly distinctive in two very
different ways:
First, sometimes mistaken for Art Deco, it is in an architectural style which is rare to homes of the era known as “International”. Between World Wars I and II, Americans preferred revival style houses that reflected past traditions. In contrast, European architects developed and emphasized radically new designs all working without historic precedents. Their work came to be known as International Style. All superfluous ornamentation was stripped away and clean lines prevailed. Common details include a flat roof without a ledge, cubist elements and a smooth, unornamented wall surface, often in stucco. A major modern architecture exhibition in New York introduced the International Style in the United States in 1932. The style was popular into the 1970s and reached its zenith during the 1950s primarily in the design of office buildings and skyscrapers.
Second, it is one of three experimental homes in Oakwood constructed of insulated steel panels by Steel Buildings, Inc. of Middletown, Ohio. The concept of using steel was based on its structural strength, long-lasting characteristics and resistance to many natural elements such as termites. An early model steel home was on display at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair. The idea was abandoned less than 10 years later with the onset of World War II when steel production was prioritized toward the war effort.
This eye-catching home still maintains much of its original appearance. It features many of the elements associated with the International Style such as an asymmetrical façade, flat roofs, corner windows, smooth masonry walls and the cubist elements. In 1989, the home was revamped to add a second story with balcony and to restore the interior. New windows installed at the time were specially ordered to maintain the style of the originals. Interior doors and their original Art Deco hardware were stripped and refurbished. The original white oak floors are maintained throughout most of the house. Any improvements were designed so as to maintain the architectural integrity of the home.
The current owner has a file containing the original sales brochure and printed information on the house adding to its historic provenance. The interior is decorated in Modern style to complement the overall original architecture of the exterior. The entire second story is a large master bedroom suite. One of two original bedrooms on the first floor has been made into a home office. A modern kitchen seems to fit right into the home’s exceptional styling. A shaded stone patio behind the house and well-groomed landscaping throughout the property completes the setting.
This distinctive home is featured, along with many others, in the recently published Schantz Park Historic District Self-Guided Walking Tour booklet presented by the Oakwood Historical Society. This historic and architectural guide is free and available at the Oakwood Municipal Building, Oakwood Community Center and at Oakwood Historical Society events.