I have been curious about this home for some time now and so had one of my Facebook followers. He asked if I knew of any interior photos of the home. So I went off, "digging" for information.
The home above, known as Werk Manor, Werk Place, and Werk Castle, was built in 1897 by Eugenie M. Werk, spinster daughter of Michael Werk. Mr. Werk was born in Alsace-Lorraine and emigrated to the United States and 1832, began a soap and candle company in Cincinnati. This business was quite successful and Mr. Werk was also well-known for his wine and champagne. Eugenie's sister, Adele Werk Oskamp, lived at
Willadel, featured earlier on this blog.
Below is an article, describing the decorating of the home, from the Cincinnati Enquirer, August 22, 1897:
LAVISH.: The Interior Decorations Are Nearing Completion
in Miss Werk’s Palatial Home
pg. 32
The interior decorations of Miss
Werk’s beautiful new home, nearing completion, on Harrison avenue, Westwood,
will, as a whole, surpass anything before attempted in this vicinity. Only
decorators whose names stand at the head of their various specialties, and well
known in the decorative world, are engaged upon the work. It is safe to say
that in point of adhering to the style of Louis XVI., and from an artistic
point of view, the music room and the drawing room will surpass any decoration
in any home west of New York City. Mr. W. F. Behrens, a celebrated decorator
from New York City, has been brought to this city for the express purpose of
supervising the decorations and furnishings.
The Louis XVI color scheme in
purple and gold, ivory and cream is being carried out to perfection in the
music room. Here the gas fixtures, the furniture and decorations will be in
perfect taste throughout. The ceiling will be a work of art, with an oval
figure panel in the center. This is now being executed by Virgil Tojetti, of
New York City. At either end of the ellipse will be medallions of Verdi and
Wagner, supported by Cupids embodied in the decoration. Mr. Clemens Barnhorn,
of this city, is modeling the Cupids in relief. He is doing the work with great
skill. His designs terminated in the scrolls of the Louis XVI style. This
beautiful center panel will be surrounded by electric lights recessed in the
ceiling. The corner pieces in this room will be emblematic of music. In the
center of the bow window will be a handsome marble statue which Miss Werk
ordered to be made when she was in Tunis. The statue has arrived and is at
present in the Art Museum. The walls of this room will be reserved for rare
works of art. An important feature will be the organ, which is being built in
the wall, with a handsome Gothic front.
The reception room, adjoining
the music room, will be in the Marie Antoinette style. The color scheme will be
carried out in delicate blues, greens, cream and ivory. The ornamentation of the
ceiling will be in blue gray. An elaborate design will be painted from the
palette. This effect will be mother-of-pearl, with exquisite La France roses
strewn in rich profusion, petals gracefully failing. The wall will be covered
with silk damask, which is being especially manufactured in France. The
tasselated floor of this artistic apartment will have a handsome Aubuson rug,
which is being made to order. The fireplace will be Alta onyx; the gas fixtures
of Ormolu gold.
The sitting room will be in the
Empire style, with all the woodwork in mahogany. The general color scheme of
this room will be green and gold, in the wonderful Rookwood coloring. In this
room the facing for the mantel is being made by A. R. Valentien, of Rookwood. A
beautiful head, by A. Van Briggie, will occupy a conspicuous place. The greens
on the walls will be translucent, corresponding with the Rookwood ware.
The breakfast room, which is
almost completed, is very dainty. Colonial in design, with dome ceiling. The
color scheme is green and ivory, the ornamentation in ivory, blending into soft
greens. The domed ceiling will be ornamented with morning glories and sweet
peas. The furniture will be white mahogany.
The dining room is being
executed in the Henri II of France style. The frontispiece of the fireplace
will be an exquisite bronze panel, by Clodion of Paris, surrounded by Alta
onyx. All fixtures will be en suite; woodwork and furniture of mahogany.
The library had been made in the
Gothic style. The color scheme is in vert antique bronze and tobacco browns.
The woodwork will be of Flemish oak. The fire place and mantel will be made of
ceramic mosaics, with intricate Gothic design. This mantel and fireplace are
now being made in England. The gas fixtures, andirons, &c., in the library
of vert antique bronze. Here there will be an inlaid floor with fur rugs.
The spacious hall will be in the
Francis I style. The color scheme will be green with woodwork in oak and
fixtures in Bower-Barf. There will be an oak floor with antique Persian rugs
throughout.
The billiard room is in red and
oak.
Miss Werk’s room is in tallow and
red, with dainty floral decorations. The woodwork in this apartment is of
cherry.
The room being prepared for her
niece, Miss Eugenie B. Werk, is a perfect example of the Empire style. The
color scheme is a delicate rose and cream with delicate tracery of vine
depending from the frieze. The woodwork and furniture will be of bird’s eye
maple.
The room being prepared for her
nephew, Mr. Louis M. Werk, is also in the Empire style, green being the
prevailing shade. The woodwork is of curly birch. All the chambers on the
second floor will be in the Empire style, with furniture to harmonize, the most
pleasing of the guest chambers being in sky blue. This palatial residence will
represent all that cultured taste and art can produce.
After Miss Werk's death in 1925, her nephew, Louis Werk continued to live in the home until approximately 1935, when he moved out and closed up the house. The house was demolished in 1939 to make way for a new subdivision.
Cincinnati Post, August 30, 1939; pg. 8
Familiar Landmark Will Be Torn Down to Make Way for New
Subdivision; Hitching Post to Stand
By Paul Cunningham
Soon the ring of the workmen’s
tools will fill the air and the $250,000 residence of the late Eugenie M. Werk
will crumble to dust like the ancient manors of medieval days.
The familiar Cincinnati landmark
standing like a barons castle at 2701 Harrison avenue, is to be torn down to
make way for a new subdivision. Only the hitching post in the driveway which has
wintered 90 years will remain for sentimental reasons.
The 26-room mansion constructed
in 1896 under the direction of the late Miss Werk, daughter of Michael Werk,
the champagne maker, and Mrs. Pauline Werk, was purchased recently by the Globe
Wrecking Co. After the valuable pieces of furniture and ornaments are sold, the
building will be wrecked.
The mansion was practically
imported from Italy and Germany. Miss Werk, an extensive European traveler,
selected entire rooms of European castles and had her architect draw them on
the spot.
She then had identical materials
imported, along with foreign workmen to construct them.
The dining room, an imposing
structure in itself, cost $20,000, it is said. A large room, it has a fireplace
made of bronze and finished in hand-carved mahogany. The beams are solid
hand-carved mahogany and the ceiling is raised, hand-painted ornamental
plaster.
All bedrooms are finished in a
different manner, with chandeliers of different design in each. The stairways
are solid oak with Miss Werk’s initials E.M.W., hand-carved in 6-inch letters.
Pictures from many foreign
countries line the walls of the second-floor library. The walls are of
hand-carved oak. The oak fireplace is finished in hand-worked mosaic. A winding
stairway to the observation tower, reported in highest point in Cincinnati,
leads from the library.
Brief historical notes of the
Werk family are contained in a solid leather archway on the second floor
directly opposite a colored glass window in which the old homestead is
pictured.
An old barn stands to the rear
of the home. Underneath is a wine cellar 50 feet deep and 300 feet long. Only a
few charred barrels in the two-story cellar link the present with the glorious
past.
The following interior pictures were included with the above article. So far these are the only interior pictures I have found. I have tried to contact descendants of the Werk family, in hopes that more may be discovered.