Cote Bonneville
Why it's listed
Cote Bonneville is a three-story hilltop mansion on Colerain Avenue in Cincinnati, completed in 1902 for Napoleon DuBrul, a French Canadian-born inventor who held thirty-five patents, most of them for cigar manufacturing equipment. Architect William W. Franklin, an English-born professor at the Ohio Mechanics Institute, designed it in the Chateauesque manner, with conical-roofed turrets, wall dormers, tall chimneys and a steeply pitched roof. The walls are rock-faced Indiana limestone over a concrete and steel frame, with fireproofing touches such as steel window curtains at the rear. Five wood-frame outbuildings remain within the 5.6-acre nominated tract, including a carriage house older than the mansion. After DuBrul died in 1916, the house served as a fraternity house, then belonged to Herbert A. Faber, developer of Formica, and later to the Glenmary Sisters as a convent. Its site overlooking the city's industrial valley reinforces its connection to the industrialist who built it.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under Criterion B as the 1902-1916 home of Napoleon DuBrul, a Cincinnati inventor and industrialist known for cigar mold manufacturing. It is also significant under Criterion C as a Chateauesque estate-type residence by architect William W. Franklin. Its hilltop site above the Mill Creek Valley's industrial area strengthens both the associative and architectural value.
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 84000448, listed November 29, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 4850 Colerain Ave., Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | November 29, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84000448 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1902 |
| Architect / builder | William W. Franklin |
| Architectural style | Chateauesque (also described as Romanesque Revival or French Country House) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; described as in good condition, unaltered and on its original site. |
| Acreage | 5.6 |
| Within district | Mount Airy Forest |
| Coordinates | 39.17024, -84.55572 (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 84000448.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5175307
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.