It's an event fit for an industrialist — or at least the viewers of HGTV. The biennial Promenade of Homes will be held from 1-5 p.m. May 20 and feature mansions in the Dayton Lane Historic Area. ,

        The event allows the group to raise money for neighborhood projects, said David M. Loeffler, president of the Dayton Lane Historic Area.

        Using matching block grants, the group is restoring the four-block Campbell Avenue Park, once a racecourse. The area was a favorite of prominent industrialists who wanted to be near their factories downtown.

        This year, some homes never before on the tour will be open to visitors. A total of 13 will be open. Visitors can see finished restoration projects as well as those in progress. Traffic will be blocked to the area during the tour.

        Buildings new to the tour include:

        • Christian Benninghofen mansion, 807 Dayton St., a 7,100-square-foot home built between 1890 and 1892 by the prominent industrialist. It is an example of Queen Anne free classic architectural style, with a parquet floor and nine fireplaces. It is owned by Mr. Loeffler.

        • Carriage house, 610 Dayton St. Mr. Loeffler said the house and carriage house are two of the finest examples of half-timbered Queen Anne architecture in the city. Built in 1883, the home was owned by Robert McKinney, president of Niles Tool Works, a huge machine tool manufacturer at the turn of the last century. The carriage house was added later by the second resident, Thomas Curley, president and manager of the Columbia Carriage Co.

        • John McKee home, 644 Dayton St. Mr. McKee, Hamilton's postmaster, built his house in the 1840s. Later, the house was purchased by Allen Andrews, a member of a prominent Hamilton family.

        • Maj. J.F. Bender house, 709 Dayton St. The Hamilton contractor and civic leader built his home in 1892. As an example of Queen Anne architecture, the house features an interior with jeweled stained-glass windows, parquet floors and carved fireplaces.

        • August Fischer home, 838 Campbell Ave. Built in 1909 for the vice president of the Ohio Tile Co., this house is of the Georgian Revival style. It includes an ornate entrance and porch. Columns feature terra-cotta capitals. Inside, the house is filled with beveled glass, stained glass and four mantels.

        Such fancy work can be difficult to restore. Mr. Loeffler said he sometimes has trouble finding craftsmen who know how to work on the old homes.

        “That's the biggest challenge,” he said. “That's why a lot of people end up learning how to do this (special) work themselves.”

        Consider that the Benninghofen house is noted for its distinctive woods — quarter-sawn oak, cherry, bird's eye maple. Each adjoining room is made of a different wood.

        Fortunately, the house survived the devastating flood of 1913 — although barely. Water reached the top of the interior doors on the first floor.

        “Mud was still popping up through the 1980s when a large mirror in the hall was removed from the wall for repairs,” Mr. Loeffler said. “The back of the mirror was caked with mud. Pocket doors would also drop mud.”

        Tickets may be purchased for $8 in advance at the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, 201 Dayton St. Details: 844-1500.

        Randy McNutt's column runs on Saturday. Contact him at (513) 755-4158 or write to The Enquirer, 7700 Service Center Drive, West Chester, OH 45069.

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