When my mom and I go out for lunch, we often pass by this mansion in College Hill. I pulled in as the sky was clear and wanted to make a mental not to find out more about the house.
An excerpt from CincinnatiViews:
This mansion is called Laurel Court. In 1894 Peter G. Thompson founded what is now called Champion International Paper Company. The home was completed in 1907, constructed of gray Alabama granite that was shipped to the site by a railroad spur built specifically for this task.
The home contained an elevator, a retractable roof, a central vacuum system, and a plumbing system that delivered hot, cold and rain water. there is a swimming pool faced in Rookwood tile, a conservatory, and two gardens, one Japanese and the other Italian style.
Thompson lived here until his death in 1931. The property was then acquired by the Cincinnati Archdiocese in the 1940s as the residence for Archbishops. In the late 50’s the land was divided so that McAuley High School and the Mother of Mercy Convent could be built. Laurel Court was then sold to Donald “Buddy” LaRosa in 1977 for use as a corporate headquarters until 1990. LaRosa secured the mansion’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places on November 29, 1979, restored the home and grounds, and bought back many of the statues that had been in the home but had been sold by the archdiocese.
In 1990 Roger Loth bought it and resided there from 1991-2000. Judy and Larry Moyer purchased the home in 2000 and are the current caretakers.
In addition to hosting events, there are also tours available. When the weather warms, I’ve a mind to head back and take a look inside.