PlayingCardForum.com - A Discourse For Playing Cards
Off Topic Chat => The Conversation Parlor => Topic started by: Russ on February 14, 2020, 12:19:09 PM
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For a couple of weeks, the old U.S. Playing Card Co. Building In Cincinnati has been used for filming for a Bruce Willis movie, once they finished filming, they fenced the old building in. It looks like they are about to demolish the building. Has anyone heard anything about this? It would be a shame to see that building go, because it is one of the few iconic buildings in Norwood, Ohio.
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For a couple of weeks, the old U.S. Playing Card Co. Building In Cincinnati has been used for filming for a Bruce Willis movie, once they finished filming, they fenced the old building in. It looks like they are about to demolish the building. Has anyone heard anything about this? It would be a shame to see that building go, because it is one of the few iconic buildings in Norwood, Ohio.
Russ, you need not worry.
I do have some "inside information" that I can't reveal, but I'll simply say for now that the building is not being demolished. (Unless my information is out of date, but I don't think it is.)
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To bad they are not tearing it down. If they were then they could locate and open the cornerstone. Three years ago I came across this article..........
The Paper Mill and Wood Pulp News
Volume 22
Nov 2, 1899
Playing Card Company Lays Cornerstone of New Plant
Dayton, Ohio, Oct. 31.—Last Thursday will in all probability go down in the history of the United States Playing Card Company as Russell Day. On that day was laid the cornerstone of the new building which the company is erecting in Norwood, a suburb of Cincinnati. The ceremony, which was of peculiar interest, was performed by Mr. A. O. Russell, one of the founders of the Cincinnati branch of the United States Company. There were present the officers and directors of the company and a few guests.
The box which was placed in the cornerstone by Mr. Russell contained samples of playing cards and of the work of the United States Company in general, circulars, price lists, and other interesting articles. In his address Mr. Russell reviewed the history of the institution from the establishment of the little color plant on College Hill street by himself, Robert Morgan, and Mr. Armstrong, about thirty-two years ago. and from which has grown the present company, with plants in several of the large cities in the country. Mr. Hinds, of New York City, followed with a brief address reciting some facts in connection with the operation of the plants under the supervision of the company as at present constituted.
The party repaired to the St. Nicholas Hotel upon returning to the city, where a banquet was served. The company expects have its plant in operation by early 1901.
I contacted USPC and they said the cornerstone had not been opened. I then contacted the Norwood Historical Society but they said it's on private property and they would not get involved. Next I found the present owners of the building (Norwood Beech LLC) and they were interested. But they could not locate the cornerstone. It appears that it was covered up in 1926 when the front of the building was added on to for the building of the new clock tower.
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I’m actually seeing someone over the weekend with whom I could discuss this issue about the cornerstone. Again, I can’t talk details, but the person in question would be in a position to do something about this and may be interested.
The only major concern beyond that would be how the storage chamber and its contents in the cornerstone were protected against the ravages of time and the elements. The technology for such protection 121 years ago wasn’t quite as good as what we have at our disposal today, but it is possible that it was up to the task.
We’d also have to hope, considering that the building’s front was remodeled about two decades later, that the stone wasn’t removed and either forgotten or taken. That remodeling was a century ago and I’ve been told that the company’s record-keeping for items and events from that long ago is not exactly what one would call “museum-quality archival.” The company has changed hands a number of times in the past 50 or so years and many of its previous owners were far less concerned with the company history than they were with the company profits.
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Let me know when. I'll be ready to go.
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Let me know when. I'll be ready to go.
I learned that yes, the building IS being demolished. But I also learned that USPC is aware of the cornerstone and is working to preserve its contents. There will be (something I can?t talk about!) in its place and yes, USPC will be involved. Just keep your eyes and ears open as the project develops - easy enough if you?re in the area, right? ;)
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I would love to be there when the look for it. I'm about 90 minutes away. It would make a great story for Clear The Decks
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I would love to be there when the look for it. I'm about 90 minutes away. It would make a great story for Clear The Decks
I have no idea of when, exactly, that would take place. As you mentioned, there's that facade that they placed in front of the original cornerstone - they might uncover it from inside the building instead of outside, so there is that, too.
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As a person unfamiliar with traditions of construction work, what is a cornerstone (is it that symbolic first laid brick?) and what is it about regarding USPC?
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As a person unfamiliar with traditions of construction work, what is a cornerstone (is it that symbolic first laid brick?) and what is it about regarding USPC?
A cornerstone is just that, a stone in the corner of the building, often at the base where two walls meet, and in older buildings it was often symbolic - they were often engraved with the name of the building, the year it was built, etc. In this particular cornerstone, there was in essence a time capsule of memorabilia placed in it when the building was first built.
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Any further information yet?
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Any further information yet?
I'm not expecting any new information at this time, and the information I do have, I really can't reveal. Keep your eyes open for press releases from USPC.
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I see they are tearing down the factory now. Any word on the cornerstone?
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I see they are tearing down the factory now. Any word on the cornerstone?
I doubt they'd tell me if there was!
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There are some really interesting details in this story...
https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/hamilton-county/norwood/massive-mixed-use-development-in-the-cards-for-former-factory-site-in-norwood
More updates on "Factory 52" here...
https://www.facebook.com/USPCRedevelopment/?hc_ref=ARQuQP9KKl2dB2JdRU9NCygTvKGNg78I0ljzx0O_FTxXgNN3Uxj3ynyncrE7BirYx-o&fref=nf&__tn__=kC-R
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TV news story with great inside views and more on the project...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXyH1aGx1RU