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2 - y' -.r(f <br />.. . ._. ,ix•.: <br />The story behind the story <br />bvas just about as interesting as <br />the demolition appeal hearing on <br />the 126-year-old quarry stone <br />home on Porter gi,oad, which <br />local history buffs want to save. <br />Among those hissing when <br />suggestions were made to <br />demolish it were twa local <br />vvomen who were born in the <br />house. <br />Dora Adams of North Ridge- <br />ville and Irene Smith of Olmsted <br />'1'ownship were the third genera- <br />tion of the Biddulphs, an early <br />LVestern Reserve settler family, <br />to be born there. They probably <br />avere the most emotional indi- <br />7iduals ?1a7 the :?uctt?*,,; e cr pboiaE. <br />;Q who attended the tiearing. <br />Their grandfather, William, <br />built the fortress-like 11-room <br />home in pre-Civil War dsys and <br />etched 1860, the yeas• of comple- <br />tion, above the front door. <br />Ralph Biddulph, tlaeir father, <br />farmed the surrounding land, <br />raising strawberries and ather <br />specialties to be trucked into <br />Cleveland. <br />The girls skated on the quarry <br />ponds, now filled in, before <br />moving away when they were 6 <br />and 7 years _old. During the <br />1930s, 1940s and 1950s the Cvok <br />family called the house home <br />and saw the nearby Park Ridge <br />development rise aroslnd dts <br />three acres. <br />February 27, 1984 <br />G9JRREiti7' Oi'VN1ERS 9teve <br />and Alfreda Flagner, of Cleve- <br />land, are elderly and in poor <br />health, and may want to sell the <br />home. <br />Columbia Road resident <br />Henry Reichel offered figures ai <br />about $1,500 to make the house <br />livable by installing new win- <br />dows and doors. A ffre struck the <br />living room two years ago but <br />did not do major stracr,ural <br />damage. <br />Howevar, others at the city <br />Board of Building Appeals hear- <br />ing insisted the renavation cost <br />would more likely run in excess <br />of $25,000 once modern plumb- <br />ing and other up-to-date living <br />needs were taken into account. <br />7'he Board of Building <br />Appeals refused to overturn a <br />city demolition order granted at <br />the request of local residents <br />:who claim the house is a hang- <br />out for juveniles, and attracts <br />burglars and vandals to the <br />.area_ <br />Iiowever, board members <br />safd they want the house saved. <br />1'hey told the Flagners there is a <br />60-day appeals timetable to City <br />,Council, antl if they either start <br />repairs ar sell the home to <br />someone who can, the demoli- <br />tion will not proceed. <br />History buffs who are serious <br />and willing to fork over money <br />for the home and several acres <br />of property, could discuss terms <br />witte the Flagners at 661-5681. <br />However, F'lagner awaits a <br />triple by-pass heart operation u; <br />a week or so and his wife is in <br />poor health too, so they wisPa_ <br />only serious calls. <br />L'Dng sf0/')/ <br />o,f house: <br />Wi// %f end?