St. Joseph Orphanage). One way they fund-raise is by selling merchandise (shirts, hoodies, etc.) displaying their admittedly debatable slogan. Well, let’s see...Cincinnati and San Diego both have famous zoos, legendary beer-brewing histories, and perfect weather, right? The slogan’s purpose is to get attention, smiles, and dollars. It clearly succeeded with you in the first category. Let’s see how it does in the other two.
Last year you wrote about a popular Clifton Heights club on the now-empty block bordered by McMillan, Vine, and Calhoun streets. I’m more curious about some stone-wall fragments there. They’re much older than the demolished club. They look like ancient foundations. What buildings were on that block originally? —GHOST CORNER DEAR GHOST:
First, let us all celebrate this, the Doctor’s first all-Clifton column. In ancient times, of course, there was no block there at all—just some wild animals, foliage, and The Cupboard selling bongs nearby. But you are correct that by the early 20th century several buildings occupied that block. We can only guess which ones survive in the stone fragments you observe, because the widening of Vine Street in the 1940s may or may not have sacrificed a structure on the corner. Those foundations could therefore be the remains of 4 West McMillan, or 6, and/or 8. Over the years, city directories show a grocery store, bakery, dentist, tailor, apartments, savings and loan, and “smoke shop,” which again suggests subtle influences from The Cupboard. Yes, the block’s other side facing Calhoun Street is just a slab now. It once was a popular music venue that changed its name several times during the 1970s and ’80s. In our February 2021 issue, the Doctor recalled those names for any UC alumni who could not, perhaps thanks to subtle influences from The Cupboard.
MARCH 15 - 27, 2022 Aronoff Center CincinnatiArts.org
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 2 C I N C I N N AT I M A G A Z I N E . C O M 2 5
