“I actually found it on Instagram on Cheap Old Houses,” Kline said. “He [friend] said knock on the door anyway. An older gentleman opened the door and let me come in. All I did was come in this room [main living area] and I loved it.”
Luckily, the other offer fell through, and Kline was able to purchase the home. Since then, Kline has been able to make the home all his own with a few upgrades, paint and the addition of his distinctive collection of antiques and artwork.
“I love the architecture of the house,” Kline said. “I love that it’s old: the arches, the texture of the walls. It was beautiful. And I always thought if I ever did buy a home, it would have to be something unique, something old and something fitting to me.”
The home was built in 1928 and is solid masonry. The home has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, dining area and kitchen. Other features include a detached garage, small breakfast nook, basement wine cellar, a walk-up attic and two working gas fireplaces.
The home was built in the French Eclectic style that was popular at the time. After many Americans were exposed to more European culture during World War I, they adopted some of the styles in the United States. Some features of the French Eclectic style include steep roofs, stone or stucco exteriors and French-style windows and doors.
Kline’s home includes all of these features and an asymmetrical design. There are green copper roofs over the front bay window, the front porch and side door. It has a hipped roof with a rounded front door that Kline said is reminiscent of a “hobbit house.” Kline describes his style as “controlled Maximalism” or timeless classic.
“It’s a reflection of who I am,” he said. “It’s like I’m just a normal person. Then when I come home, I can escape into this magical place with beautiful things around me that remind me of friends or different parts of my life. Everywhere you look, there is something interesting.”
Numerous portraits adorn almost every wall of the home. One of his favorite pieces is a portrait of a friend of Queen Elizabeth I painted in 1585. Kline had all of his artwork cataloged, and now his collection includes more than 200 pieces. Many of the rooms in his home have a theme like the dining hall, which has an Italian feel.
The breakfast nook has an built-in hutch and swinging doors, which are original, lead to the kitchen. There is no bathroom on the first floor, only one in the basement and on the second floor. The attic is a little difficult to get into, but one can see how perfect it would’ve been for play dates for any kids who grew up in the home.
Kline had the history of the home documented in a book. When the home was constructed, only people of the Caucasian race were allowed to purchase the plots. This also excluded Jewish people. However, those rules were ignored in the 1950s when a Jewish family moved into the home.
Kline said there are still mezuzahs on the front and back doors. A mezuzah, which means doorstep in Hebrew, is a small case with a piece of the Torah inside and is to remind people of the word of God and to protect them.
“The more you can find out about your home, the more you love your home, and the more you can make it look more beautiful, the better,” Kline said.
Kline’s future plans for the home include planting 12 oak trees on the property line in order to block out some of the sun coming in from the west. He also wants to rejuvenate the backyard next fall. He said the inside he feels is pretty much done. Kline also expressed that he loves the area and is happy about the revitalization happening on the westside.
“I love living here because I feel like I am an ambassador to Dayton, to northwest Dayton in particular,” Kline said. “Northwest Dayton is having a kind of a rebirth. I love Gem City Market … I feel like it’s a great time to be here.”
TIMELESS DAYTON
Are you a local home or business owner who has an historical property to feature? Email jessica.graue@coxinc.com and tell us about it.
About the Author