2416 Edgehill (1985, 1989)

This brick Jacobean house, the first house facing Edgehill, is memorable to the thousands of drivers who take that route every day into the Heights. In fact, when approaching the neighborhood from Little Italy, one sees one of its quaintest features: two windows with functional shutters crowded in a shingled well within the roof, over the sun room.

The exterior has two noteworthy features: an early attached garage facing the street, with arched door counter-balancing an arched window in the sun room on the opposite side, and a vine motifed, ornate stone arch over the entrance with stone columns and capitals bearing striking Near Eastern motifs. A restored rock garden in the front lawn is also

unusual. A cedar roof envelops the house with a complex roofline.

On entering the house, one sees a medley of medium-toned to dark woodwork, bright walls, modern fixtures, and contemporary furniture. Windows are entirely of leaded glass, and art is everywhere -- with emphasis on posters displaying '20s exuberance. Off the front hall is a large living room with carved oak and glossy tile fireplace. There is much fine paneling on the fireplace wall, and the ceiling molding is plaster. The bright sun room with generous windows is beyond, entered through a passage of book-shelves.

The dining room is opposite the entrance. Furnishings are eclectic, but it all works -- Art Deco-influenced wall sconces replacing the original, Breuer chairs surrounding a contemporary table, leaded glass folding doors leading to the hall and living room.

The kitchen faces the front and is totally redone in whites and stained wood cabinets, shelves, counter tops featuring many framed posters and a basket collection. The pantry is unusually attractive and combines original windowed cabinets and hardware with new fixtures, flooring, counters, decorative wall tiles, and a wine rack.

The main stairway has a bare wooden banister with oversized bead motif. An original fixture hangs over the well. Upstairs, the spacious master bedroom features a fireplace and brass ceiling fan. All bedrooms have interesting ceiling patterns. One enters the attic through a continuation of both main and servants' stairs, forming a large, unexpectedly open stairwell. Off one of the servants' bed rooms is a balcony overlooking the stairways.

The house was constructed in 1916 during the final phase of the Euclid Heights neighborhood's development. Its first owner was Charles Farnsworth, cashier of First National Bank; the second was John Jackson, associated with the Whitman-Jackson Company.