1603 Clifton Avenue

1603 Clifton Avenue

Woodland Park, Columbus, Ohio 
Lot 10, Watson and Ryan's Subdivision

I can trace ownership as far back as John Scott Thomas, who was born September 4, 1859 in Georgesville, Ohio, son of Obedia and Martha Jane (Douglas) Thomas. He married Katie C. Puck in Franklin County on June 22, 1887. Katie was born in Ohio in December 1865. They had two children: Lillie M. (May 1887) and Helen I. (July 1894).

John was a carpenter, and in 1910 he was foreman of a carpentry shop. His death certificate says he was foreman of the Pennsylvania Railway tank shop.

Katie predeceased John. John died March 19, 1949 in Bexley at 226 S. Cassingham. He is buried at Greenlawn Cemetery.

Robert K. McAllister bought this house from the Thomases in April 1918. He assumed a mortgage of $610.72 from the Railroad Employes' Building & Loan Company.

Robert K. McAllister was born in Ohio about 1885. He married Emogene R. McAllister about 1922. Emogene was born about 1884 in Iowa. They had two children: Elizabeth Jean (1923) and Mary M. (1925).

Robert was a house builder with an office at 85 South High Street. He probably built the house at 1599 Clifton Avenue. In 1920 the family lived at 1603 and had a servant, Hattie Bond, listed in the Census as a 38 year-old mulatto.

On November 14, 1940, John Q. Adams, Jr. purchased the house.

John Quincy Adams, Jr. was born about 1913, son of John Q., Sr. and Martha (Geiger) Adams. He married Rose Mary, before 1944.

Columbus City Hall, circa 1950s

John Quincy Adams, Sr. was a Columbus architect whose work included the "new" City Hall. Martha died April 17, 1917 in Dayton after a miscarriage. John, Sr. was remarried in 1926 to Anne E. Runk. John, Sr. died on April 15, 1968 in Columbus.

John, Jr. was a draftsman in 1941, working for his father at their office was at the rear of 55 Lexington Avenue. He became an architect in his own right and was Chief of facilities division of the 20th U.S. Army Corps. John, Jr, and Rose moved to Hunterdon County, New Jersey about 1968. He died in New York City in 1977.

On February 26, 1944, Edith M. Krick purchased the property.

Edith Muriel Austin was born about 1879 in Ohio, daughter of William and Mary (Burt) Austin. She married Albert Henry Krick in Scioto County on August 26, 1901. Henry was born in Ohio April 18, 1877. They had two children, Austin Ritter (August 1, 1903, Portsmouth, Ohio - November 1955) and Mary Frances (Nye) (September 8, 1914 - September 5, 1996).

Between 1918 and 1930 they lived at 435 Eldridge Avenue. In 1920 Henry Albert was a railroad clerk. In 1930 he was a clerk for a furniture manufacturer. Henry died April 13, 1942 and they lived at 1531 Richmond Avenue at that time. Edith died in Columbus on August 16, 1965. She lived at 1234 Northwest Boulevard in Grandview Heights.

On December 1, 1953, James W. and Mary A. Bridges bought the house.

James W. Bridges was born November 22, 1904 in Georgia. He married Mary in about 1924. Mary was born about 1907 in Georgia. They had at least five children: twins Beatrice and Byatrice (1925), Erlene (1926), James W., Jr. (June 30, 1932), and Jerome W. (March 2, 1937).

In 1930, James and Mary rented 1343 Atcheson Street for $25/month. James owned a restaurant.

Mary died in Columbus on January 26, 1987. After Mary's death, James seems to have transferred the property to his son, Jerome (who lived in St. Louis, Missouri). James died in Columbus on September 25, 1990.

Jerome W. Bridges transferred the property to a a trust in his name in 2004. He and his third wife, Joanne were the trustees. They lived in St. Louis and sold the house from the trust on March 24, 2011.