Monday, January 13, 2014

The Old House Voyeur visits Covington


The Old House Voyeur (that's me) was excited last week to discover that two of Covington, Kentucky's, most over-the-top vintage mansions --- across the street from one another no less --- were on the market. 

That's the Carneal House above, at 402 E. Second St., priced at a modest $2.7 million (down $200,000 from the original asking). It was photographed from the cupola of the Laidley House (below), at 404 E. Second St., priced at a modest $2.2 million, photographed from a veranda of the Carneal house. So far as I know, a package deal isn't available.


For the record, real estate in Covington --- located at the confluence of the Ohio and Licking rivers just south of Cinicnnati, Ohio --- reportedly is the least expensive in Kentucky. These seem to be exceptions.

Roughly 40,000 people live there, but proximity to Cincinnati drives the economy as does Covington-based St. Elizabeth Healthcare, serving much of northern Kentucky and with roughly 6,300 employees.

Both mansions are located on The Point, where Covington was founded in 1814, and date from the city's aspirational and boom years. The main block of the Carneal House was built ca. 1815 for a city founder; the Laidley House, ca. 1867 for a river boat entrepreneur. Both houses are being expertly marketed, so there's lots to look at (expert marketing includes recognizing the value of fine photography and other well-designed illustrative material; unfortunately, the photographers are not identifed).


The main block of the Carneal House, believed to be the oldest surviving structure in Covington, was built ca. 1815 by Thomas D. Carneal, one of the city's founders. It's an interesting confection of Georgian, Federal and Palladian with a little Gothic Revival (the windows) thrown in for good measure.

William W. Southgate purchased the home after Carneal's death and ca. 1835 added the wings to the rear.

As years passed, the house was turned into apartments, then was renovated to serve as a bed and breakfast and finally deteriorated to the point where it was in danger of being lost. Steve and Connie Bishop purchased the house in 2008, fully restored it and were awarded the 2010 Historic Licking Riverside Civic Association Beautification Award as a result. Although asking for anonymity, they apparently are the sellers.

Although the price seems a little steep, it does include a ghost --- the Gray Lady, shade of a young woman in a gray chiffon dress who reportedly asked Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, to dance during a ball in his honor at the house during the mid-1820s, was rebuffed and promptly hanged herself on the grounds. She's been mad ever since.

The house is spacious and lovely, although rather plainly decorated --- the restorers barely had time to settle in before listing it and it almost looks as if no one is living there now. There also are lovely river and city views from the various porches.


The rooms above are (from top to bottom) reception hall, living room (to the left of the hall) and dining room, behind it. There are many more photos at the Christie's International Real Estate site as well as at Zillow.


The Laidley House was built ca. 1867 for Frederick Alexander Laidley, a prominent Covington businessman and steamboat magnate, who lived in the home until his death during 1931, albeit in reduced financial circumstances. Jim and Fran Allen purchased the house from the Laidley heirs some years later and have lived in, restored, maintained and decorated it for 38 years. They now want to down-size.

The wonderful old Second Empire house is decorated to within an inch of its life, from top to bottom, but gorgeously, and filled with a lifetime of possessions. Amenities include three bars --- two kitchens and a basement so immaculate one could lick the floor and survive.


The photos here are (top to bottom) the living room (once known as the ballroom), the staircase, the dining room and a guest bedroom.

The marketing materials for this house could keep an old house voyeur occupied for hours. Huff Realty has launched a Web site for the house, which is here. You can access photographs, a video tour and other information here. By going to the Huff Realty listing page for Laidley House, you can download a PDF magazine devloted to the house.

The Huff Realty marketing effort is about as good as it gets for an American house. But the $2.2 million price tag remains a little intimidating.

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