Beech Avenue Houses
Why it's listed
Two neighboring houses on Beech Avenue in Cincinnati's Price Hill area, built around 1885 and 1886, represent the exuberant domestic architecture of the Victorian period. The house at 1120 Beech has a high slate hip roof, corbeled chimneys, a sunburst-decorated porch, and wood walls finished in bands of fishscale shingle, clapboard, and diagonal board. The house at 1128 Beech is a brick Queen Anne design with an asymmetrical plan, strong gable wall dormers, a truncated slate hip roof with metal cresting, and large corbeled chimneys with terra cotta pots. Inside, it retains paneled walls, carved woodwork, ornate simulated marble fireplaces, and a walnut newel post. The latter house was bought in 1919 by J. Alfred Schehl (1882-1959), an organist and composer known for his Catholic church music, including the St. Cecilia Hymnal. The two houses are separated by a landscaped lot and together create a distinctive setting. They were the only properties on the street identified as historically or architecturally significant.
Significance in brief: The house at 1128 Beech is significant as a distinctive example of Queen Anne architecture, and it was once home to organist and composer J. Alfred Schehl. The house at 1120 Beech is significant for its characteristic Victorian detailing. Together, separated by a landscaped lot, they form a distinctive visual and architectural setting.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 79001853, listed February 16, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1120 and 1128 Beech Ave., Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | February 16, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001853 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne (1128 Beech); Victorian (1120 Beech) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Performing Arts |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Both houses are listed as occupied private residences in excellent condition, with owners described as sympathetic to restoring and maintaining them. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 39.11294, -84.57713 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 79001853.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4879560
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.