CAREW TOWER
On August 24, 1929 Thomas Emery's Sons announced a $30 million real estate deal to erect the largest building complex of its kind in the United States. The Emery Hotel, (see hotel pages) and the Carew Building were among the buildings razed for this construction project. On November 11, 1929 excavations began and the construction of the building began on January 8, 1930. The Carew Tower was named after John Carew (1848-1914), co-founder of the Mabley & Carew department store chain, (with the original store located on the opposite corner). The complex included a 48-story office building, a 750 car 28 story garage, department store, arcade, a 800 room 29 story hotel, and restaurants.
Arcade
Many consider the fully automated 28 story parking garage as the most exciting part of this monumental project. The driver pulled into a parking service bay, got out and locked the car. Automated platforms then would slide the car onto elevators which carried it to a vacant level and deposited it. When the driver came to get their car, they would sit down in a waiting room as the car was returned via the elevator and automated platform. This revolutionary method ultimately failed because of the many shapes and sizes of the cars coming off the production lines in the ensuing years. Also it was not very reliable and broke down frequently. It was also very time consuming for short-term parkers as opposed to employees of the tower or hotel guests who stayed overnight. The automated system was eventually dismantled and replaced by humans who rode the elevators and parked the cars. In the 1980s this portion of the Carew complex was demolished during renovations because of the weakened condition of the structural steel supports caused by road salt eating away at them for 50 years.
Non-postcard images
Carew Garage
Incredibly in 7 months, believe it or not, the Carew Tower was dedicated on July 10, 1930 with the first tenant moving in on October 1. The entire project took only 17 months with the garage being one of the final items to be completed. The primary retail tenant was Mabley & Carew, (Pogue's moved in when Mabley & Carew moved across the street in 1962). The Netherland Plaza opened on the west side of the tower, (see hotel section).
These are not postcards
Carew Tower under construction
Brand new building
These 3 cards show the two tallest buildings in Cincinnati
(years ago)
So it is only appropriate that the next building is:
THE UNION CENTRAL LIFE INSURANCE
The Union Central Life Insurance Company was founded by the Methodist Church on January 10, 1867. Preachers were encouraged to become agents, with notable success. The company occupied the building below from 1874 until they moved into the 34 story Union Central Tower at 4th and Vine.
4th and Central
Anyone living in Cincinnati will recognize this building instantly. Built in 1913 it is 34 stories tall and when built it was the 5th largest building in the world and the tallest building outside of New York. Located at the southwest corner of 4th and Vine, this is where the home of Reuben Springer the promoter of Music Hall, the Post Office, and then, the Chamber of Commerce had stood.
In 1926 the Burnet House, (see Hotels), which had stood on this corner was torn down to make room for the addition of an annex to the Union Life Building. All six cards above were produced before the annex had been completed. They all state on the back that only 10 stories were done.
I don't know what the photograph above is showing. At first I thought it was a fire, but then I noticed the bunting hanging down on the northeast corner of the building plus there is a fountain of water shooting straight up from the roof. I now believe that they may be celebrating the completion of the tallest building in the city. The main reason for showing this photo is the rather unusual view of the, at that time, very old Burnet House that was torn down in only a few years.,
BELL TELEPHONE
209 West 7th
Street
West
exchange 930 York St.
Largest straight line switchboard
B.
Kilgour
President & General Manager
The 1st non-postcard image above shows one-half of the world's longest straight line switchboard of 88 long distance operators. On 1/23/37 a record 9,722 calls were made.
AMERICAN BOOK CO.
300 Pike
St.
Back of card on left
METHODIST BOOK ANDREWS BLDG. ALMS & DOEPKE CO.
4th near
Elm
s. e. cor. 5th &
Race
Canal and Main
AMERICAN BLDG. SCHMIDT CO. BLDG. GAS & ELECTRIC CO. VOGELER DRUG CO.
Central
Parkway
s. w. cor. 5th &
Main
139 East 4th St.
217 East 6th St.
JOHNSTON BUILDING TEMPLE BAR BLDG. DOCTOR'S BLDG.
s. w. corner of 5th and
Walnut
n. w. cor. Main and Court
19 Garfield Place
MANUFACTURES EXHIBITION BLDG.
Location
unknown
CONVENTION CENTER
These three cards show the Cincinnati Convention Center as it looked when dedicated on August 4, 1967. Consisting of 95,000' sq. feet on the block bounded by 5th, 6th, Elm, and Plum Streets it soon came to be regarded as outdated and too small, it was also considered to be an ugly looking box-like structure with 'no spirit'. An expansion and remodeling program began in 1984 which resulted in an elegant facility with 162,000-square feet of exhibition space, a 30,000-square foot ballroom, plus 43 meeting rooms. The arch from the old Albee Theater was installed over the 5th St. entrance. This new structure was rededicated June 9, 1986 as the Sabin Convention Center in honor of Dr. Albert Sabin who had developed the oral polio vaccine in the 1950s at Cincinnati's Children's Hospital.
FOR MORE DOWNTOWN
BUILDINGS 
