East End, also called East Hamilton or Gobbler’s Knob, was created with the building of the Mosler Safe Co. in 1891.
Covering an area of 1.12 square miles on the eastern side of the city, the East End is one of four traditional neighborhoods on this side of the river. The East End, also called Gobbler’s Knob or simply the Knob, sits at the southeastern corner of the city, with boundaries stretching north to 129, west to N Erie Boulevard, south to Bobmeyer Road, and east to the Fairfield Township border. Approximately 5,080 people call the East End neighborhood home.
In the early days of Hamilton, much of the neighborhood development occurred around factories and business establishment. In 1891, the area that would later be known as the East End neighborhood began to take shape with the welcoming of Mosler Safe Co to the area.
Banking on the promise of money, land, and employee housing, Mosler Safe Co relocated from Cincinnati at the insistence of the East Hamilton Improvement Association, namely Lazard Kahn and Oakley V. Parrish. With the added bonus of railroad access, the East End became a popular spot for industry employee housing. By 1908, the land was annexed into the city, officially creating the East End neighborhood. Streets throughout this area are named for investors and developers, including Parrish, Kahn, and Mosler.
The western side of the neighborhood on Hancock Avenue boasts a beautiful 54-acre park named Crawford Woods, complete with picnic shelters, baseball diamonds, and a splash pad. Dating back to the beginning, some of the park land was owned by Mr. William Daniels. He built his home using all local materials in 1835. This home, which sits adjacent to the park, was known then as the Forest Cottage and Mr. Daniels lived there until 1845 when David Crawford purchased the land and home. The Crawford family owned the land for approximately 125 years after that, but by 1966, the property had become desolate and citizens moved to restore the property to its former glory. The home, now known as the Crawford House, has since been restored and is now used as a meeting hall.
Also located in the East End is the Richard Allen Academy. This charter school is located in the same building that used to house the St. Veronica Catholic Church and school. The current building was constructed in 1923 and took the place of the original establishment, which was built in 1894 when St. Veronica was first organized.
In addition to its diverse historical uses, the culture of the East End is a blend of many backgrounds. The abundance of factory work brought several families of German and Appalachian descent. The tension between these two populations was evident, even causing some families to resort to gunfire such as that between the Hessenbruch brothers and the Hardin brothers, as described in the May 17, 1906 Butler County Democrat. At the end, Silas Hardin was beaten unconscious and Otto Hessenbruch took a bullet to the hip.
The East End has seen its fair share of devastation, including a fire at the Weik Bakery in 1906. While making doughnuts, a baker left a pot of hot lard unattended and it boiled over, causing the bakery to catch fire. By the time he returned. At the time, the east side of Hamilton (known as the village of East Hamilton) had very little fire protection, consisting of a volunteer fire department and a single chemical engine with insufficient water. After the chemical engine ran out, the fire raged for several hours causing several homes and businesses to be damaged or destroyed. Overall, the fire cost approximately $25,000 in damages. The bakery was later renamed The East Hamilton Bakery and relocated in 1924 to Shuler Avenue. The business is no longer operational, but the building is still standing today.
Despite the struggles of the past, there has also been immense growth in the East End. The land where Crawford Woods Elementary School sits was once a hotspot for Hamilton families in an entirely different way, as it was the first municipal pool in the city. Constructed in 1924, the East View Swimming Pool and City Park was built in an effort to reduce the high number of drownings in the local bodies of water. Over 6,000 people attended the grand opening. However, due to neglect and lack of funds, the swimming pool was forced to close in 2007 and was demolished. In 2010, the elementary school was built, allowing the land to serve families once again.
Adding to the great history and great locations, the East End neighborhood also has great people who go above and beyond to keep the community alive and thriving. One such person is Peaches Atha. Peaches has lived in the East End for 30 years, and has raised her family in the neighborhood. As a 17Strong board member and an active community leader for H.O.M.E. (Hamilton’s Own Mobilizing the East End), Peaches is the perfect person to contact if you would like to get more involved in the community. Reach out to Peaches through the 17Strong email, 17Strong@hamilton-oh.gov, or through the East End of Hamilton, OH Facebook page.