1515-1517 Clifton Avenue

Lot 1 Smith's Second Woodland Park Addition

This duplex was built about 1905. It was demolished about 1974 for the construction of the Isabelle Ridgway Home.

Tenants of 1515

1906-1908
William S. Hunter, storekeeper

In 1918, Hunter was Secretary and Treasurer of The Hunter Hardware Company at 430-432 East Long Street. Hunter than lived at 93 Cleveland Avenue. 

1909
Robert H. Boyer, draftsman

1909-1910
Robert R. Weaver, mehanical engineer

1911
Lewis B. Arthur, chauffeur

1912-1917
Lang Johnson, accountant

1938-1940
Harold N. and Clara Brining, foreman City Ice and Fuel Company

Tenants of 1517

1906
Leroy R. Ashley, clerk

1907
Matthew E. Roberts, deputy county recorder

1909-1911
William H. Auld, jeweler

William Halley Auld was born April 25, 1874 in Columbus, son of Demas L. and Sarah Ann "Annie" Torr Auld. He married Laura Kilworth in Franklin County on December 17, 1895. Laura was born March 5, 1875 in Newark, Ohio, daughter of F. and Addie Dean Kilworth. They had a son, James Elmer (December 22, 1897).

In 1870, Civil War veteran Demas Auld started a jewelry shop in Columbus after learning the trade of watchmaking and engraving, eventually turning to automobile nameplates like Ford Motor Co.'s famous blue oval which is still used today.

"My great-great-grandfather's original company became an international business overnight because he invented the tumbler lock for jewelry," Dan Auld said.

Eventually, the firm was the largest national source of college and high school rings and pins, as well as fraternity rings and pins. At the start of the 20th century, Auld's experience in making decorative items attracted the attention of automakers including Henry Ford, Walter Chrysler, Ransom E.Olds and the Dodge brothers.

"Demas and his son, F. Howard Auld, came out in the early 1900s with a way to keep nameplates on autos so they wouldn't come off whenever the cars hit a bump. Probably the most famous of those designs was the blue oval Ford still uses," Dan Auld said.

As the auto business grew, the family stopped making jewelry, sold that portion off to two different companies, which remain in operation today in Indiana.

In 1910 Auld was Superintendent at D.L. Auld Company.

In 1918, Auld lived at 1576 Richmond Avenue. His occupation at the time was tool and die maker. His son Elmer was a student at the University of Florida in Gainesville. 

The Aulds moved to Miami, Florida before 1920. William died in Florida on June 22, 1935.

1912-1916
John H. Copeland, trimmer

1917
Harris Kempke, furrier

1919
Nancy (wid Francis) Morgan
Arthur C. Pearce, electrician

1920
Charles C. Jones, machinist

1922
David C. Archibald, driver

1923-1934
Harry W. (Mary) McMorris, clerk/salesman

1926
Lucille Kinney, maid

1926-1929
August K. Koerbling
sign painter, commerical artist, early aviator

August Karl Koerbling was born August 27, 1894 in New Philadelphia, Ohio, son of August H. and Katharina F. "Fannie" Wohlgemuth Koerbling. He married Alma Grace McMorris in Franklin County on December 14, 1925. Grace was born June 14, 1897 in Findlay, Ohio, daughter of Harry B. and Mary B. Hipple McMorris. They had two sons, David A. (1926) and Karl (March 31, 1937).

Koerbling was a member of the Early Birds of Aviation. The Early Birds of Aviation is an organization devoted to the history of early pilots. The organization was started in 1928 and accepted a membership of 598 pioneering aviators. Membership was limited to those who piloted a glider, gas balloon, or airplane, prior to December 17, 1916. The cutoff date was set at December 17 to correspond to the first flights of Wilbur and Orville Wright. 1916 was chosen as a cutoff because a large number of people were trained in 1917 as pilots for World War I.

In 1917, Koerbling was an aviator instructor for Curtiss Aeroplane Company of Buffalo, New York. He lived at 389 Centner Avenue. August was a 2nd Lieutenant aviator in the Marine Corps in World War I. In 1925 he was at the same address, but working as an artist. 

In 1926, Koerbling was an artist for the Columbus Bill Posing Company. In 1927, Grace was working as a clerk at the Federal Prohibition Office. August was employed by the Adisplay Sign Company. In 1928, Koerbling was an inspector for the U.S. Department of Commerce and conducted examinations for air transport licenses.

In the 1930 Census, the Koerblings are living with Grace's parents at 1517 Clifton Avenue. August was then working as an aviator for Curtiss Wright.

In 1939, Koerbling worked as a sign painter for the Ohio Bulletin Company. August and his two sons lived at 1253 Eastwood Avenue.

In 1940, Grace was an inmate of the Columbus State Hospital. Grace and August were divorced around this time. In 1941 August was a commercial artist for the Columbus Outdoor Advertising Company and lived at 153 Latta Avenue.

He married Hulda Ruder in Franklin County on August 2, 1941.

In 1942 the Koerblings lived at 153 Latta Avenue and August worked for Curtiss Wright. They later moved to Dayton, Ohio and Los Angeles, California.

In 1953 and 1954, Grace lived at 18 1/2 East Third Avenue.

Koerbling died August 27, 1970 in Los Angeles, California. Grace died in Columbus on December 15, 1973. She is buried at Greenlawn Cemetery.

1515-1517 Clifton Avenue, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, November 1950

1915 advertisement for the Hunter Hardware Company

D.L. Auld Company, 195 East Long Street, circa 1915

A Koerbling illustration from the Works Progress Administration.