The Elsinore Arch: The History of Cincinnati's Gilbert Avenue "Castle" | Cincinnati Refined

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Why is there a castle-like structure at the corner of Gilbert Avenue and Elsinore Place? What are the remnants of towering stone walls doing in the open field by Mirror Lake? Well, it has a little something to do with Shakespeare, picnics, and Cincinnati Water Works. / Image: Amy Bauer // Published: 4.12.19

Known as Elsinore Arch, the "castle" was completed in 1883 with the initial purpose of being an eccentric valve house for Cincinnati Water Works. / Image courtesy of Parks Bettman Library Archive // Published: 4.12.19

The stone archway consists of a cylindrical tower connected to a square watchtower, both with narrow windows. / Image: Amy Bauer // Published: 4.12.19

The architectural design was inspired by a performance of Shakespeare's Hamlet playing at Music Hall for the spring 1883 Dramatic Festival. This festival was so popular, it attracted visitors from Chicago. / Image courtesy of the University of Cincinnati Archives and Rare Books Library // Published: 4.12.19

This Hamlet performance starred the famous hometown actor, James Edward Murdoch, despite being 72 years old at the time. Anyone who is interested in reading the original script can find a copy in University of Cincinnati’s Archives and Rare Books Library. / Image courtesy of the University of Cincinnati Archives and Rare Books Library // Published: 4.12.19

The opening scene backdrop of the production was a 65-foot painting of the play’s Elsinore castle. Cincinnati Water Works Superintendent, A.G. Moore, happened to be in the audience that Friday evening on May 4th, 1883. Moore was so impressed by this castle painting, he hired the firm of Samuel Hannaford and Sons to build an identical one for the new valve house. / Image courtesy of Parks Bettman Library Archive // Published: 4.12.19

Elsinore Arch cost $15,000 to build and was intended to be a grand entrance to Eden Park and the Cincinnati Art Museum. While the stone stairs leading up to the park remain, once automobiles became more popular, the stairs lost much of their necessity. / Image: Amy Bauer // Published: 4.12.19

Elsinore Arch cost $15,000 to build and was intended to be a grand entrance to Eden Park and the Cincinnati Art Museum. While the stone stairs leading up to the park remain, once automobiles became more popular, the stairs lost much of their necessity. / Image: Amy Bauer // Published: 4.12.19

Elsinore Arch cost $15,000 to build and was intended to be a grand entrance to Eden Park and the Cincinnati Art Museum. While the stone stairs leading up to the park remain, once automobiles became more popular, the stairs lost much of their necessity. / Image: Amy Bauer // Published: 4.12.19

Elsinore Arch cost $15,000 to build and was intended to be a grand entrance to Eden Park and the Cincinnati Art Museum. While the stone stairs leading up to the park remain, once automobiles became more popular, the stairs lost much of their necessity. / Image: Amy Bauer // Published: 4.12.19

Elsinore Arch was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. / Image courtesy of Parks Bettman Library Archive // Published: 4.12.19

Elsinore Arch housed the water main valves that ran from the great reservoir in Eden Park. The double-basin reservoir took twelve years to complete beginning in 1866 once the thirteen acres were acquired. This property was selected because of the descending ravine surrounded by steep hills on three sides. / Image courtesy of Parks Bettman Library Archive // Published: 4.12.19

A large retaining wall running 1,250 feet in length was built on the remaining side, and an 84-foot-deep basin was dug. The wall had eight beautiful, elliptical arches—each spanning 55 feet. The base of the retaining wall was 48 feet wide and tapered to 25 feet on top. / Image courtesy of Parks Bettman Library Archive // Published: 4.12.19

A large retaining wall running 1,250 feet in length was built on the remaining side, and an 84-foot-deep basin was dug. The wall had eight beautiful, elliptical arches—each spanning 55 feet. The base of the retaining wall was 48 feet wide and tapered to 25 feet on top. / Image: Amy Bauer // Published: 4.12.19

What is now Martin Drive was once called Baker’s Pass—a brick road intended for carriages that ran atop the retaining wall. It was named after David Baker, the public official who encouraged the reservoir project. / Image courtesy of Parks Bettman Library Archive // Published: 4.12.19

What is now Martin Drive was once called Baker’s Pass—a brick road intended for carriages that ran atop the retaining wall. It was named after David Baker, the public official who encouraged the reservoir project. / Image: Amy Bauer // Published: 4.12.19

What is now Martin Drive was once called Baker’s Pass—a brick road intended for carriages that ran atop the retaining wall. It was named after David Baker, the public official who encouraged the reservoir project. Pictured is an image from a vintage postcard. / Image courtesy of The Cincinnati Public Library Memory Project // Published: 4.12.19

Standing on what remains of Baker’s Pass offers a view of the Ohio River, Kentucky and Mount Adams. / Image: Amy Bauer // Published: 4.12.19

The reservoir was put into service in 1878 with a total capacity of 100 million gallons. / Image courtesy of The Cincinnati Public Library Memory Project // Published: 4.12.19

When the reservoir was drained for routine maintenance, all kinds of surprises were found in the reservoir basin, from wrecked cars to dead bodies. / Image courtesy of The Cincinnati Public Library Memory Project // Published: 4.12.19

Once the basin was cleaned, Municipal picnics would be held inside to celebrate with music and dance. These picnics would draw a third of the Cincinnati population. / Image courtesy of Parks Bettman Library Archive // Published: 4.12.19

Once the basin was cleaned, Municipal picnics would be held inside to celebrate with music and dance. These picnics would draw a third of the Cincinnati population. / Image courtesy of Parks Bettman Library Archive // Published: 4.12.19

What is now Martin Drive was once called Baker’s Pass—a brick road intended for carriages that ran atop the retaining wall. It was named after David Baker, the public official who encouraged the reservoir project. / Image: Amy Bauer // Published: 4.12.19

Once the basin was cleaned, Municipal picnics would be held inside to celebrate with music and dance. These picnics would draw a third of the Cincinnati population. / Image courtesy of Parks Bettman Library Archive // Published: 4.12.19

Chemical purification of city water began in 1907 at a new water facility upriver, but the Eden Park reservoir remained in use. / Image courtesy of Parks Bettman Library Archive // Published: 4.12.19

All that resides in the lower basin are the remnants of the retaining walls and a lonely basketball court in the wide-open field. The sloping ravine is a popular sledding hill in the winter months. / Image: Amy Bauer // Published: 4.12.19

A greenhouse in the style of a Swiss cottage sat at the edge of the reservoir.{ }It housed plants and flowers that would be planted in Eden Park. This greenhouse was used until the Krohn Conservatory was constructed in 1933. Pictured is an image from a vintage postcard. / Image courtesy of The Cincinnati Public Library Memory Project // Published: 4.12.19

A detail from Martin Drive, which was once Baker's Pass / Image: Amy Bauer // Published: 4.12.19

In 1960, the lower basin was filled in for baseball fields and the upper basin was made deeper to increase its capacity to 80 million gallons. The single basin was used until 1965 when it was made into the Mirror Lake we know today. / Image courtesy of Parks Bettman Library Archive // Published: 4.12.19

Elsinore Arch cost $15,000 to build and was intended to be a grand entrance to Eden Park and the Cincinnati Art Museum. While the stone stairs leading up to the park remain, once automobiles became more popular, the stairs lost much of their necessity. / Image: Amy Bauer // Published: 4.12.19

The stone archway consists of a cylindrical tower connected to a square watchtower, both with narrow windows. / Image: Amy Bauer // Published: 4.12.19

All that resides in the lower basin are the remnants of the retaining walls and a lonely basketball court in the wide-open field. The sloping ravine is a popular sledding hill in the winter months. / Image: Amy Bauer // Published: 4.12.19

All that resides in the lower basin are the remnants of the retaining walls and a lonely basketball court in the wide-open field. The sloping ravine is a popular sledding hill in the winter months. / Image: Amy Bauer // Published: 4.12.19

The reservoir walls are often used by local rock climbers to practice climbing in spring and summer. / Image: Amy Bauer // Published: 4.12.19

The reservoir walls are often used by local rock climbers to practice climbing in spring and summer. / Image: Amy Bauer // Published: 4.12.19

The reservoir walls are often used by local rock climbers to practice climbing in spring and summer. / Image: Amy Bauer // Published: 4.12.19

Elsinore Arch cost $15,000 to build and was intended to be a grand entrance to Eden Park and the Cincinnati Art Museum. While the stone stairs leading up to the park remain, once automobiles became more popular, the stairs lost much of their necessity. / Image: Amy Bauer // Published: 4.12.19

All that resides in the lower basin are the remnants of the retaining walls and a lonely basketball court in the wide-open field. The sloping ravine is a popular sledding hill in the winter months. / Image: Amy Bauer // Published: 4.12.19

The stone archway consists of a cylindrical tower connected to a square watchtower, both with narrow windows. / Image: Amy Bauer // Published: 4.12.19

Remnants of the former reservoir wall / Image: Amy Bauer // Published: 4.12.19

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