High Uptown

Bullard-Hart-Sampson House

Statement of Significance from National Register Application 1975

" Located in what was then the most prestigious Columbus section, the outstanding Second Empire style Bullard-Hart House was begun in 1887 and completed in 1890 by Dr. William Lewis Bullard. Dr. Bullard built the house for his wife, the former Mary Blackmar and their three daughters, Elmira, Louise, and Dana.

Dr. Bullard was born in Tenniville, Georgia, on February 29, 1852, the son of Elmira and Lewis Bullard. He attended Emory University and afterwards studied medicine at Johns Hopkins. He later pursued his medical studies in London and Vienna. Dr. Bullard was a prominent eye, ears, nose, and throat specialist at a time when medical specialization was rare. Many of his patients came great distances to be treated by him. A number of the operations he performed in Columbus were considered notable. His large practice attested to the high esteem in which he was held.

The family of Dr. Bullard's wife, the Blackmars, played an important role in the early days of Columbus. Descendants of the family have lived in Columbus since 1835 when the city was only seven years old. The family contributed greatly to the cultural and economic growth of the city.

The Bullards raised three daughters in the house, two of whom were married there. One of the daughters, Elmira (Mrs. William Thomas Hart) married and lived in this house until recently. While Mrs. Hart lived in the house people always found a hospitable welcome. One of their more frequent visitors was Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who gave a radio talk announcing his decision to run for Governor of New York from the parlor of this house. The announcement was broadcast nationwide. Not only was Mr. Roosevelt a frequent visitor, but other prominent guests were General George C. Marshall, General George Patton, and Supreme Court Justice Thomas Murphy.

Architecturally, the Bullard-Hart House is a seemingly endless array of textures and details amassed in a late 19th century house. The art nouveau tile work, the carved and paneled woodwork, the intricacies of parquetry, stained glass, embossed paper, tin, and leather work, mantels embellished with carved relief and over-mirrors, numerous arches and composite columns present a tour de force of Victorian details. The Bullard-Hart House is in desperate need of the protection afforded by the National Register. Encroaching commercial developments pose a serious threat to the house."

Description of the Bullard-Hart-Sampson House from the National Register Application 1975

"The Bullard-Hart House, 1890, is a frame two and one-half story Second Empire style house designed for Dr. William Lewis Bullard by L.E. Thornton and Company of New York, constructed by builders Jackson and Tinley who went bankrupt, and decorated by LeRolle Co. of New York. The house was ultimately completed by the architect. Thornton and Co. were also known for designing the Flagler Hotel in St. Augustine, Florida. Located in what was considered one of the choicest residential areas of Columbus, it was one of Columbus' most extravagant residences.

The exterior of the Bullard-Hart House is a symmetrical three bays of massing of an arched porticoed, one story entrance between a two-story bay on each side. Continuing this three bay emphasis on the upper one-half floor is the mansard roof with a curved pedimented dormers on either side of a central mansard roof "cupola" that rises above the roof line. Petal shaped slate tiles cover the roof. The front portico is supported by pairs of composite columns and gives access to a recessed arched doorway.

In plan the house is generally a four room central hall plan with rear ell addition of dining room and kitchen. The main portion of the house has parlors, with front facade bay windows, on either side of a hallway behind which is a wider central hall off of which is a bedroom and music room; the exterior side walls of both of these rooms are bowed.

The front doors are beveled and acid-etched glass depicting the initials of the owner. The doorway is heightened by a fan shaped transom of leaded stained glass. Passing through these doors one enters the front hall. The walls are covered in a fabric of embossed silver, copper and gold known as "Lincrustia Walton." A Greek frieze extends above the Lincrustia to join the ceiling of pressed leather. Both the outer and inner halls incorporate a lincrustia design employing embossed paper, pressed leather, pressed tin and wood reliefs. The wainscoting of the inner hall is entirely of pressed leather. The floor is oak and pecan parquetry, which was laid by a master parqueteer from Massachusetts.

From one point in the hall a viewer can count eleven arches, one of which separates the front or outer hall from the rear or inner hall. In this (the rear hall) a spectacular unsupported staircase rises three floors and is constructed of turned wooden posts, arches, and a carved balustrade. A brass chandelier is suspended thirty feet to illuminate the three floors. The design on the chandelier is a facsimile of the escutcheon on the front door. Both halls incorporate a lincrustia design employing embossed paper, pressed leather, pressed tin and wood reliefs.

Throughout the house there are features and innovations which were incorporated into the house through the insistence of Mrs. Bullard and the ingenuity of the architect. The transoms over the bedroom doors, the unsupported three story staircase, the transport vent in the kitchen were all innovations peculiar to this house. The wooden mantelpieces hang on hooks so they can be easily removed in the event of fires. The Franklin stove in the rear hall was connected to water pipes which ran between the floors to distribute heat throughout the house. The Bullard-Hart House was the first residence in the city to have electricity. Mrs. Bullard not having a great deal of confidence in electricity had gas chandeliers wired so that both could be used concurrently.

The house has been altered very little in the course of time. It was built with a ballroom upstairs, which has since been converted into bedrooms. The rear upstairs porch was enclosed with oak wainscotting and stained glass to include a billiards room. The pressed tin wainscotting and frieze in the dining room has been painted a dark brown where it was once beautifully hand-painted a myriad of colors. The frescoes in the parlor and music room have been painted over. Other than these minor changes, the house stands much as it was when it was completed in 1890."