421 Eldridge Avenue
Barnhill House

Lot 15 Maryland Terrace Addition

The Barnhills purchased this property from builder and carpenter Allen O. (Flora B.) Maxwell on July 29, 1919, including a mortgage of $2,800.  

This house was built, probably by Maxwell, for the Barnhills in 1920. The frame garage was built in 1921. 

Arthur James Barnhill was born August 13, 1880 in Vinton County, Ohio, son of Robert and Mary Vanderford Barnhill.
He married divorcee Constance G. Baird in Hocking County, Ohio on October 20, 1904. Connie was born May 1, 1880, daughter of Charles and (Carolyn) Belle Hill Baird. Connie had first been married to David Nutter in August 1896. 

Arthur was a coal miner in Murray City, Hocking County in 1904. He was a brakeman and eventually a conductor for the Pennsylvania Railroad. Before moving here they ahd lived at 289 Burt Street. In 1924, Arthur was a salesman for Ernest E. Linville Furniture at 912 Mt. Vernon Avenue. In 1927, Arthur was a baker, with a shop at 280 East Main Street. In 1933, the City Directory lists Connie as proprietor of "Mrs. Barnhill's Bakery" at 246 East Main Street. In 1935, it was Barnhill's Bakery. In late 1941, the Barnhills moved back to Murray City, Ohio.

In 1920, this block of Eldridge had been almost entirely white occupants. By 1940, the Barnhills were the last white residents. 

Arthur died April 16, 1946 at Athens State Hospital in Athens, Ohio where he had been a resident for a little over six months. Connie remarried (Samuel Clinton Gant) and died June 16, 1966 in Mineral Wells, West Virginia. Arthur and Connie are buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens.

The Barnhills sold the house to the Thomases on August 4, 1941.

Julius Harold Thomas was born March 23, 1908 in Columbus, son of James and Lulu Gill Thomas. Harold married Thelma V. Cobbs in Franklin County on June 18, 1934. Thelma was born October 17, 1910 in Lynchburg, Virginia, daughter of John and Leymore Fowler Cobbs. The had a daughter, Joyce (1937).

In 1934, Harold was a teacher. He lived at 658 Stewart Avenue and Thelma lived at 360 North Monroe Avenue. 
The Thomases rented 363 Woodland Avenue in 1940. Harold was principal of Pilgrim Elementary School. 

Thelma died March 31, 1993. Harold died January 9, 1994. 

On August 8, 1963, the Thomases sold the house to the McKinneys. The McKinneys got a mortgage for $12,300 when they purchased the house.

John A. McKinney, Jr. was born May 6, 1922 in Columbus, son of Echus and Ida Francis McKinney. He married Patty Mae Jones in Franklin County on December 23, 1943. Patty was born August 15, 1924, daughter of John and Patty B. Jamerson Jones. They had two children, Cathy A. (May 1955) and Floyd E. (July 21, 1959).


In 1940, John lived with his parents at 1413 Granville Street. In 1953 the McKinneys lived at 316 Johnson Street; Patty was a porter for Warren-Teed Products Company, John was a laborer at North American Aviation.

Patty worked for Lazarus department store for 22 years and also worked for Lifecare Alliance Association.

John died November 18, 1984. Patty died June 14, 2001. Patty is buried at Glen Rest Memorial Estate.

412 Eldridge Avenue, March 2010

J. Harold Thomas, circa 1974