1610 Pembroke Avenue
Smith House

Lot 34 D.D. Bolenbaugh as Trustee Subdivision

The Smiths who lived next door at 1598 Pembroke Avenue owned this lot for a number of years. This house was built in 1921 by the Smiths, probably by Elmer Smith for his son Lowell. 

Lowell Gray Smith was born October 18, 1891 in Rio Grande, Ohio, son of Elmer Ellsworth and Mary Gray Smith. 

In 1900 young Lowell was living with his grandparents, William and Emma J. Smith in Greenfield Township, Gallia County, Ohio. From 1905 to 1915 Lowell lived with his parents at 1598 Pembroke Avenue.

In 1917, Lowell lived at 1614 Pembroke Avenue. He was an estimator for the Ralston Steel Car Company. Lowell was an Army veteran of World War I, serving from 1918-1919.

In 1920, Lowell and his brother Floyd were boarders at 143 North 18th Street. Lowell and Floyd both worked for Ralston, Lowell was an estimator and Floyd was a shear operator. 

In 1923 Lowell and Ruth lived at 385 Woodland Avenue. Lowell was chief estimator at Ralston. From 1924 to 1925 the Smiths lived at 1610 Pembroke Avenue. In 1926 the Smiths lived at 1583 Kent Street and in 1927 at 2315 Margaret Avenue. Lowell and Ruth divorced about 1927. In 1928 and 1929, Lowell lived at 250 South Washington Avenue, Apartment B. 

Lowell married Elizabeth Charlotte Ley in Franklin County on June 14, 1929. Charlotte was born November 24, 1899 in Minster, Ohio, daughter of Louis and Anna Lambert Ley. Charlotte was divorced from Irvin Leroy Burden. In 1930 the Smiths lived at 727 North Dawson Avenue, with Charlotte's children, Louis R. Burden (1915) and Mary Ellen Burden (1919). Lowell and Charlotte divorced about 1931.

In 1934, Lowell lived at 896 McAllister Avenue, Apartment A. The 1938 City Directory lists Lowell living at Buckeye Lake in Licking County, Ohio. 

In 1942 through 1951, Lowell lived at 574 South 18th Street, Apartment 4. 

Lowell married Evelyn Alice Marie Pflieger in Franklin County on October 4, 1947. Evelyn was born August 11, 1911, daughter of Howard Franklin and Christina M. Lieb Pflieger. In 1951, Lowell was chief estimating and sales representative for Ralston. In 1954 they may have lived at 1172 Lockbourne Avenue.

In 1957, Lowell lived at 780 Thurman Avenue, Apartment D.
Lowell married Jennie Moira "Jean" "Jeanette" Gessinger about this time. Jean was born September 24, 1900 in Hicksville, Ohio, daughter of Hiram and Lydia "Liddy" Hobletzel Gessinger. She first married Alan C. Pumphrey in Franklin County on November 1, 1919. In 1940, Jean Gessinger is a boarder at 783 Seymour Avenue, working as an office clerk for a milk company. In 1951, Jean Gessinger is living at 280 West Lane Avenue and is a clerk at Coca-Cola. Her mother Lydia is living with her. 

Lowell died January 24, 1974 in Newark, Ohio. Jean died in Fairfield County on November 28, 1976. Lowell and Jean are buried at Union Cemetery. 

Lowell transferred the house to the Burnetts on July 8, 1925.

Robert Burnett was born December 25, 1865 in Albermarle County, North Carolina, son of William (Gaston) and Nellie Hammetts Burnett. He married Katherine Moss in Franklin County on July 4, 1920. He and Katherine had both been married twice before. Katherine Moss was born May 8, 1869 in Franklin County, daughter of Edward and Lucinda Depp Moss. Robert was a barber and the Burnetts lived at 614 Mt. Vernon Avenue before and after 1925. Robert died in Columbus on August 20, 1929. He is buried at Oak Dale Cemetery in Urbana, Ohio.

The Burnetts transferred the house back to Lowell about six months later on February 24, 1926. 

On October 2, 1934, Lowell sold the house to the Sloans including a mortgage of $2,701.72.

Frank Aaron Sloan was born February 23, 1900 in Athens, Ohio, son of Frank H. and Leeanna Smith Sloan. He married Margaret Amanda Johnson (Ward) in Madison County on May 16, 1923. Margaret was born January 15, 1905 in Columbus, daughter of Natalie and Charity Kibby Johnson. She had been adopted by Harry and Ella Kibby Ward. They had eleven children: Franklin Ward (December 30, 1923 - December 26, 1993), Julianne Elizabeth (July 12, 1925), Marguerite Francis (1928), Hoyt Earl (March 5, 1929 - May 23, 1990), Donald Aaron (April 27, 1931 - May 7, 1991), Frederick Lee "Freddy" (February 6, 1933 - November 27, 2002), Roy Nathaniel (June 30, 1935 - January 2001), and Ellen Jane (February 24, 1940), Harry Vincent (April 7, 1941 - April 15, 2004), Paul Dean (May 26, 1942 - June 27, 1996), and Carl Neal (July 3, 1943 -June 15, 2001).

In 1918, Sloan lived in Athens, Ohio and was working as a hod carrier in Columbus. In 1920 he was working as a barber in Columbus, his father was also a barber. Sloan operated the F.A. Sloan Tonsorial Parlor and confectionery at 1743 Parsons Avenue. 

Margaret died on January 10, 1970 in Alameda County, California. Frank died in Columbus on May 5, 1976. On February 12, 1980 the property was transferred to Frank's children/heirs.  

On October 17, 1980 the house went to Sheriff's sale for $1,041 in back taxes. Terry Gregory purchased the house for $6,000. It was transferred to him on November 13, 1981.

On December 9, 1981, Gregory sold the house to the Robert Parfitt.

Robert D. Parfitt was born June 13, 1957. He married Brenda C. Skaggs in Franklin County on February 13, 1982. Brenda was born about 1963. They had three children and divorced on January 27, 1995.

The Parfitts sold the house the the Halls on August 20, 1987. 

Robert James "Bobby" Hall was born September 1, 1956. He married Carolyn A. White in Franklin County on April 12, 1986. Carolyn was born September 2, 1948, daughter of Ovell and Estelle White. They had three children: 
Antwonne, Thornetia, and Keith.

Robert worked at DCSC. On January 6, 1988 he killed his boss, Kenneth E. Evans and then shot himself. Carolyn died in Columbus on October 17, 2003.

On January 4, 1991 the house was sold for $17,000 at Sheriff's sale to recover an outstanding debt of $26,931.15 plus interest owed to Union Savings Bank. 

On February 22, 1992, Catherine M. Smith purchased the house.

1610 Pembroke, rear west side, March 2015

1610 Pembroke, interior, west front, March 2015

1610 Pembroke, March 2015

1610 Pembroke Avenue, March 2010

Lowell and Jean Smith, circa 1957

Advertisement from the 1931 South High School Yearbook, The Lens.

The Ohio State News, October 14, 1944

The Ohio State News, September 28, 1946

The Ohio State News, June 28, 1947

The Ohio State News, April 16, 1949

MAN KILLS SUPERVISOR AND HIMSELF IN DEFENSE DEPARTMENT WAREHOUSE
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  A warehouse employee under investigation for alleged workmen's compensation fraud Wednesday shot and killed a supervisor who had helped turn him in, then committed suicide, authorities said.

The employee, Robert Hall, 33, died at the Defense Construction Supply Center, a warehouse in suburban Whitehall operated by the Pentagon.

His supervisor, Kenneth Evans, 34, was pronounced dead at Mount Carmel East Hospital, about three hours after the shooting in a break area at the warehouse, said Forrest Flewellen, a DCSC spokesman.

''There were no words exchanged. Mr. Hall just walked up and fired a shot,'' Flewellen said.

Authorities said Hall, who had been on sick leave and was not expected to report to work, entered the warehouse and confronted Evans. Evans was struck in the head with a shot from a .38-caliber revolver, and Hall shot himself in the chest.

''It is already known publicly that Mr. Hall was under investigation for workmen's compensation fraud,'' Flewellen said. ''No charges have been brought, however.''

Jack Allen, another DCSC spokesman, said Evans had helped to detect the alleged fraud.

Allen said Hall ''had altered documents from physicians on when he could return to work. Mr. Evans, among others, spotted there was something wrong with the documents.''

Allen said that the alteration of documents occurred in April and that Hall had been on sick leave several times since December 1986 because of a neck sprain. He said he did not know how long Allen had been out of work during his last sick leave or the dollar amount of the alleged workmen's compensation fraud.

Allen said Hall had his employee identification card allowing him to enter the property, but guards apparently did not check for a weapon.

''Guards have the authority to stop any car coming in, as well as going out,'' Allen said. But he described it as ''strictly a spot-check situation.''

The FBI is investigating, Flewellen said.

He said Evans was a longtime employee of DCSC, which stores parts for the government. He said Hall had worked there since 1984.