126 North 15th Street Sebring, Ohio 44672 330-938-6920 |
Mansions and Homes of Sebring |
The Sebring Parents' Homes |
The elder Sebring's, George E. and Elizabeth A. Larkins Sebring, Sr., came to the new town with their children. Their first home was the former farm home of Stephen and Lizzie Gray, on what is now West Ohio avenue. They resided there until their children built a new home for them. This lovely new home stood on the southeast corner of West Ohio avenue and Sixteenth street. Today, the Sebring Public Library is located on the site. |
Oliver H. Sebring Mansion The Oliver H. Sebring Mansion was considered the largest and the grandest of the homes in Sebring. The residence was designed by architect Jacob Myers. It was located on the southwest corner of West Ohio avenue and 17th street. The home had thirty rooms and seven bathrooms. The cost to build this home in 1901 was about $75,000. Beautiful landscaping with large urns and hedges complimented this wonderful estate. Just prior to his death on July 24, 1929, Oliver remodeled the house. The home was virtually gutted and many changes were made. A large sun room was added over the front porch for Mrs. Sebring's canaries. The total cost of the remodeling was $200,000. Fourteen years later, in 1943, the history and grandeur of this home was swept away in a few hours. During Thanksgiving evening dinner, fire broke out and spread rapidly to the attic where the wood burned down inside the brick veneer shell. The house was torn down shortly after. |
George E. Sebring Mansion The George E. Sebring Mansion was the first of the Sebring homes to be built in the village. Construction began in the fall of 1898. The home was located on the northwest corner of Ohio avenue and 16th street. The cost of construction was estimated to be between $8,000 and $10,000. George Sebring was the first insurance agent in Sebring, and along with his son, H. Orville, also operated Sebring Real Estate. He was responsible for bringing the Strong Enamel Company from Bellaire, Ohio. In 1911, he founded Sebring, Florida, sold the George E. Sebring Mansion to his nephew, Charles Leigh Sebring, and lived out the rest of his life in Sebring, Florida. Charles became sales manager of Edwin Knowles China Company of Newell, West Virginia. After he moved to West Virginia, the home was purchased by W. V. Oliver. In 1934, 'Vern' Oliver was responsible for organizing the French Saxon China Company. The Oliver Family remained in the house until Mrs. Oliver's death. In the 1970's the house was torn down. It is now the site of the C.L. Manor Senior Housing. |
Frank A. Sebring Mansion Before the residence at Ohio and 18th street was built, Frank A. Sebring lived in a home on the corner of West Ohio between 15th and 16th streets. Built in 1900, it was the second Sebring family residence built. It took about five years to complete. Frank saw during travels to Italy a mansion he wanted. He sent craftsmen measure the home, purchase the building materials and had them sent to Sebring, Ohio to be built. The Frank A. Sebring residence was the last of the Sebring family's mansions to be built. Designed by Rawsthorne of Pittsburgh and completed in 1902, the home was built of Italian glazed bricks. It is located on the southeast corner of Ohio Avenue and 18th street. It featured 30 rooms, five bathrooms and six fireplaces. President William McKinley spent several nights as a guest in the home over the years as Frank was a main financial contributor to his campaigns. He owned the home until 1936. Frank was the founder of the Sebring Pottery Company and the Limoges China Company. He was also associated with the Salem China Company, Owen China of Minerva and the Bradshaw Company of Niles. Charles L. Sebring purchased the home from his uncle. He moved the Niles plant to Alliance and operated it under the name Leigh Pottery Company. Owned by the Holt family, and in 1970, the home was owned by Mr. and Mrs Thomas Burkhart, the seventh family to own the home. The Frank A. Sebring Mansion is on the National Register of Historic Places. Through the efforts of Mrs. J. Lynn Biery, it is undergoing major restoration to create a country inn. The home will come alive again and will be preserved for future generations. |
Fredrick E. Sebring Mansion The Fred E. Sebring Mansion is located at 438 North 15th street. Fred was the only brother who did not build on West Ohio avenue. Fred was head of the Limoges China Company and founded the Saxon China Company. This home is very similar to the Will Sebring residence with similar architectural details. Fred died suddenly on December 13, 1925, of a heart attack. He had just returned from a trip to Sebring, Florida. The home was purchased by Druggist Lewis A. Bandy and remained his residence until his death in the 1940's. After being occupied by other Sebring families, (H.C. Johnston, George Cardinal, Jr., John Clisbe), the home was restored by John and Sue Risbeck in the late 1980's and early 1990's. |
William Henry Sebring Mansion 256 West Ohio Avenue Will H. Sebring built this house in 1901. It was located at 256 West Ohio avenue, and is currently the location of Dean's Funeral Home. Will was treasurer of the Sebring Pottery Company, Limoges China Company and the Sebring Land Company. His death occurred tragically on Friday, December 9, 1904. According to an article in the paper, hard of hearing, he was walking across the railroad tracks when he was struck by Pennsylvania Railroad Engine No. 15, a west bound express that was going approximately 70 miles per hour. He passed away within a few hours of multiple injuries at the age of 35. He left a wife and two children. |
Ellsworth H. Sebring Mansion Ellsworth was the last survivor of the eight Sebring brothers. This home was designed by architect Jacob Myers. He, his wife and seven children lived informally in the home. Tony and Clara Palermo bought the site after the home burnt down. After demolishing the house, they laid out the lots for the construction of the homes of Brian Moore, Tod and Becky Brunie, and Tony and Cindy Christani, whose home was nicknamed the Storybook House. It is said that this home contains construction items which Palermo rescued from the O.H.amd E.H. Sebring home. |
Willard I. and Helen Sebring Gahris The stucco home has a sense of elegance and grandeur. Mrs. Gahris was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank A. Sebring. Helen Gahris was a noted socialite and hostess. Unfortunately, her love for parties and hosting brought about her demise. She and several other area persons died as a result of food poisoning. Tainted olives, which she purchased from an Alliance market and served at a coming home party for WWI veterans caused the deaths. She was also a noted golfer at a time when it was a rare thing to see a woman on a golf course. Willard and Helen had one daughter, Gretchen who married J. Harrison Keller and lived in the home for a number of years. There are three fireplaces, six bathrooms four bedrooms in the home. An addition of a library made out of a side porch was added by Gretchen and Harrison Keller. Owners Ed and Janet Slusser have added a new kitchen. This home is currently for sale. |
James and Emma (Sebring) Barclay Mrs. Barclay was the daughter of George and Elizabeth Sebring Sr. Her first husband, Charles Albright, was killed in October 1910 was killed with three others when their car was struck by a streetcar. He was manager of the Limoges China Company. |
Tony Palermo Located on the southeast corner of West Ohio and North 17th Street, was built on the former site of the O.H. Sebring home. Palermo owned the Sebring Construction Company, and the Sebring Coal Mine. He built the home in the 1940-50's. In 1941, he also purchased the land on West Ohio Avenue, between N. 18th and 19th Streets where the former E.H. Sebring residence stood. |
W.L. Murphy home The home was enlarged in the 1920's to look as it stands today. Other owners of the home include the Marlin Watkins family and the Paul Schreckengost family. Currently owned by Henry Demuth. |
Roderick Branfield says: the house used to be john b briggs my grandfather corner of 18th and west ohio avenue 396 west ohio avenue to be exact. |
Whose house is this? |
Whose house is this? |
Whose house is this. It is not Fred's. |
Whose house is this? |
Dick Albright Sebring's first postmaster, taken about 1906. Sitting in front are Ruth Norris Robins, Bill Norris, Frank N. Norris |
Corner of N. 15th and Maryland Avenue |
1902 |
Jon. Hall |
Thomas Richards |
Charles Strausser |
5 room house listed for $400 1902 |
William Brown |
10 room home listed for $240 |
Ladies' Boarding Hall |
C. J. Albright |
E. M. Stanley, Railroad Agent |