Over-the-Rhine

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This article is about the Cincinnati neighborhood. For the Ohio-based band, see Over the Rhine.

Over-the-Rhine is a neighborhood in Cincinnati, Ohio, that is situated between Downtown and Clifton Heights. The architecture is italianate, but also reminiscent of Europe-influenced northeastern cities, such as Baltimore and Philadelphia. Its name comes from its builders, German immigrants. Historically in this district, there were many people who spoke German language, read German newspapers, ate German food, and some constructed German-style houses. The neighborhood has changed considerably, in terms of demographics, economics, and architecture, but elements of the old style remain. For example, The German Baptist Church, Philippus United Church of Christ, Trinity Methodist Church and many other neighborhood churches have inscriptions in German and Latin. Another historical church of intrest is the Over-the Rhine area is Old St. Mary's Catholic Church. It has historically significant and is the oldest church in Cincinnati. The church has artifacts on display, and still holds a Mass in German and Latin every Sunday. Also of note, is the historic St. Paul Church (Over the Rhine) which is now the home of the The Verdin Company. The Cincinnati Volksfreund was a daily and weekly German language newspaper based in Cincinnati, which was published between 1850 and 1908.

Today, Central Parkway separates Over-the-Rhine from Downtown as did the Miami and Erie Canal, on the same site before it. Most early Over-the-Rhine residents crossed the canal to enter Downtown every day. In homage to the Old Country, they called their neighborhood Over-the-Rhine, imagining the canal to be the Rhine in Germany. By 1906, the canal had fallen into disuse after competition from railroads, and parts of the right-of-way were soon picked up for its next use by the Cincinnati and Lake Erie Railroad. An electric streetcar line ran along this route to connect Cincinnati with Columbus and Toledo, but other parts of the canal remained stagnant pits of dirty water. In 1920, the Cincinnati Subway began construction in the former canal, but it was abandoned by 1928 following wartime inflation despite tunnels and stations remaining in good condition to this day. That year Central Parkway opened on top of the abandoned subway's right-of-way.

Over-the-Rhine is one of the largest National Historic Districts in the United States, treasured for its massive collection of 19th century Italianate structures. Many of these buildings sell for under $50,000 with the knowledge that renovation costs may equal the price of sale.

Contents

[edit] History

During the 19th century, Over-the-Rhine was one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in the Midwest, if not the most densely populated. As the center of German life in Cincinnati, there were more than 50 breweries in the neighborhood alone. At the turn of the 20th century, the population of the district reached 45,000.

During the later 19th and early 20th centuries, German-Americans began abandoning their ethnic enclave, amid a more general trend of slowing European immigration. The increasingly affluent Germans who had already immigrated began moving into more ethnically-neutral, though still predominantly white, neighborhoods further from downtown. This period saw a steady decrease in overall population of the neighborhood as its (previously immigrant) population became more wealthy and moved to more affluent neighborhoods. At the same time, migrants from the South and Appalachia were drawn to Cincinnati by industrial employment, and began settling in the neighborhood. Over-the-Rhine was reconfigured as a working class neighborhood of day laborers. African-Americans fleeing the economic and social climate of the antebellum South became especially prevalent within the neighborhood. By the early twentieth century, the German ethnic population was no longer the major demographic of Over-the-Rhine.

The population of Over-the-Rhine continuously declined through the century:

  • 1900: 44,475
  • 1960: 30,000
  • 1970: 15,025
  • 1980: 11,914
  • 1990: 9,572
  • 2000: 7,500

Working class whites abandoned the neighborhood once these industries ceased operation. Cincinnati was once the machine tool capital of the world, and it shares the experience of White flight following deindustrialization. Today, Over-the-Rhine has a vibrant African-American community, despite problems with open-air drug trade, violent crime, and poverty.

Gentrification and adaptive reuse have brought new faces to Over-the-Rhine in recent years. Attracted by its large collection of historic rowhouses, Italianate architecture, and the sense of community that comes with "stoop sitting" culture, artists and others weary of traditional neighborhoods began a transformation in sections of the neighborhood that today makes Over-the-Rhine Cincinnati's most creative, culturally- and economically diverse neighborhood.

In April of 2001, a Cincinnati police officer shot an African-American teenager, who was fleeing police, in Over-the-Rhine just blocks from the boy's home. When members of the community demanded an explanation of the events, they received no response from the city, and some turned to rioting to express their frustration. The 2001 Cincinnati Riots in both Downtown and Over-the-Rhine just days after the shooting were seen as a result of frustration on the part of African-American city residents who did not feel that they had adequate means to achieve justice. The city acted to contain the rioting and enacted a citywide curfew.

Racial tensions in Cincinnati have always plagued the city -- tenuously located just north of the formerly slave-owning Southern states -- but they appear to have subsided in recent years with regard to Over-the-Rhine's diversifying community.

[edit] Districts

[edit] Attractions

Over-the-Rhine contains Washington Park, one of the largest parks in the city to be surrounded by dense blocks of housing. Washington Park was originally established as a burial ground for several small churches. The city acquired the land in 1855, moved the graves and established the park. It was the focal point for numerous musical and gymnastic events conducted by the Germans and was integrated into the culture as a fashionable Sunday family spot.

Kaldi's Coffeehouse and Bookstore, on Main Street, bustles with new arrivals. The Main Street district is the center of revitalization, with art galleries and restaurants.

Cincinnati Music Hall is located in front of Washington Park, was in 1878 with private money raised from what is believed to be the nation's first matching grant fund drive, this Cincinnati showpiece has been renovated and updated and includes what is judged to be among the best and most beautiful concert theaters in the world. Cincinnati Music Hall hosts Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati May Festival Chorus.

Architrek Tours, Weekend Guided tours by the Cincinnati Preservation Association. Over-the-Rhine: Fourth and final weekends of each month; Second Sunday at 10:00 a.m; Fourth and final Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. Findlay Market: Fourth and final weekends of each month; Second Sunday at 10:00 a.m; Fourth and final Saturdays at 10:00 a.m.

Findlay Market is Ohio’s oldest continuously operated public market and one of Cincinnati’s most cherished institutions. The Market is located just blocks from downtown in Over-the-Rhine, a dense historic neighborhood rich in 19th century architecture. Open Wednesday through Saturday, Findlay Market is home year-around to about two dozen indoor merchants selling meat, fish, poultry, produce, flowers, cheese, deli, and ethnic foods. On Saturdays from March to December the Market also hosts a thriving farmers market, dozens of outdoor vendors, numerous street performers, and lots of special events. Findlay Market is a gathering place for people from all over the city. It routinely attracts perhaps the most socially, economically, racially, and ethnically diverse crowds found anywhere in Cincinnati. They come for the sights and sounds and smells of an old-fashioned public market, for the great variety of fabulous fresh foods, for bargains, for people watching, and for a quintessentially urban shopping experience.

Final Friday Gallery Walk, a monthly gallery hop in historic Pendleton and on north Main Street, continues throughout the year on the last Friday of every month. Galleries and shops along North Main Street, and at the Pendleton Art Center, open their doors form 6-10 p.m. to give everyone an opportunity to see everything from original works of art, vintage modern furniture, stunning floral arrangements, to chic design aesthetics. Many of the shops and galleries host exhibits and meet-the-artist receptions with refreshments. It's high energy, fun, and best of all free and open to the public.

Opera Dogs Annual Summer Dog Days Event: Dog Singing Contest, Dog Costume Contest and Dog Parade in Historic Washington Park, Cincinnati, Ohio.

BockFest takes place annually in and around Over The Rhine. The annual parade led by the 20' BockFest Trojan Goat culminates with proclamations by city officials, the blessing of the first cask of Bock Beer and various other activities at the intersection of 12th and Walnut Streets. The festival and parade are a celebration of the coming of Spring and the traditional and ancient practice of brewing and consuming Bock Beer during the Lenten season.

Second Sunday on Main is an economic initiative for the Main Street Business District in historic Over-the-Rhine. It is an incubator for new entrepreneurs and emerging artists, as well as a showcase for established businesses. This is a great opportunity for a variety of vendors, artists and craftsmen to be exposed to an urban, creative crowd looking for a unique experience. The shops, galleries and restaurants are open for Sunday brunch, browsing and businesses. Second Sunday on Main programs sidewalk activity to round out the experience, such as musicians playing for tips and selling CDs, performance artists, visual artists work while they sell and arts organizations can congregate to sell subscriptions. Second Sunday on Main brings together several OTR organizations providing a model of cohesive partnerships and cross-promotional support that fosters collaboration and trust that can be replicated with other OTR programs and community activities.

Annual Luminaria Harmony of Light Lighting up Washington Park for the Holidays the First Saturday in December. An event for the entire city and community to come together and participate in a unified activity with Music Hall as a backdrop. From luminaries to lights in the trees, with choirs, entertainment, hot chocolate, cider and other refreshments.

Annual Orchard Street Blossom Festival is held on Orchard Street, Over-the-Rhine, on Second Saturday in April when the pear trees are blossoming.

MidPoint Music Festival For three days in late September, Over the Rhine hosts 300 bands from across the United States and around the world to perform original music in just about every genre.

[edit] Demographics

There are between 400 and 500 abandoned buildings in Over-the-Rhine. Its current population is just 7,638 people in an area of 0.64 square miles. It has an owner-occupancy rate of just 2.7%

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, the racial makeup of Over-the-Rhine is 19.4% Caucasian, 76.9% African American, and less than 4% of other races. 0.6% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

[edit] Community organizations

EnjoytheArts
If you've ever said you'd love to go see a play or opera but you just couldn't afford the tickets, now there's an inexpensive way for younger people in Cincinnati to experience everything the arts has to offer. With an Enjoy the Arts or a START membership, young professional's age 30 or younger and full-time students of any age can attend exhibits and performances by taking advantage of substantially discounted ticket prices. Enjoy the Arts/START provides an opportunity for young people to experience the arts in Cincinnati up close and personal.

iRhine
Where dot com stands for community. iRhine is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that develops the focus of communication for the many diversified offerings in the historic Cincinnati neighborhood of Over-the-Rhine (OTR). Through the Web site, e-mails, educational meetings, events, and volunteering, iRhine has supported and encouraged socio-economic development for OTR and the Greater Cincinnati Region since 2000.

Over-the-Rhine Community Council
The Over-the-Rhine Community Council is the officially recognized residents organization, one of fifty two in Cincinnati. We hold monthly meetings open to everyone, usually falling on the last Monday of the month, except for holidays, then it’s a week early. Meetings start at 5 pm, run to about 7 pm, and are held at the Over-the-Rhine Community Center, located at 1715 Republic Street, otherwise known as the Rec Center, or the Hub.

Over the Rhine Community Housing
As of recently, the former low income housing organization known as ReSTOC (Race Street Tenant Organization Cooperative) merged with the Over-the-Rhine Housing Network to form Over the Rhine Community Housing. By doing this, those involved wish to develop affordable housing as part of a diverse and inclusive neighborhood.

[edit] Historic Churches

[edit] External links

  • iRhine.com iRhine is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that develops the focus of communication for the many diversified offerings in the historic Cincinnati neighborhood of Over-the-Rhine (OTR). Through the Web site, e-mails, educational meetings, events, and volunteering, iRhine has supported and encouraged socio-economic development for OTR and the Greater Cincinnati Region since 2000.
  • Historic Sites in Over-the-Rhine
  • Over-the-Rhine Community Council
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