By Ruth Bamberger
Special to NKyTribune
The Ludlow Historic Society, founded in 2010 by residents to preserve the architectural character of the city, has received a grant from the Josephine Ardery Foundation to purchase a home in the historic Latta Block at 232 Elm Street.
Renovation will begin immediately with a loan received from the Catalytic Development Corporation of Northern Kentucky, which provides financing assistance for developers of residential and commercial real estate projects in Northern Kentucky cities.
The Latta Block on Elm Street is a five-unit row of small Victorian houses built in 1884-85 by Luella Latta, daughter of A.B. Latta, an early 19th century engineer-inventor who owned acreage in central Ludlow.
Over the years, remodeling took place on the east end unit where an addition was constructed for a street-front office. Another unit at one time became a commercial live bait shop with refreshments and a taxi stand location.
The unit purchased by the Historic Society had an enclosed front porch attached which will be removed in keeping with the original appearance of the row houses.
Andy Corn and Patrick Snadon, Historic Society board members and architects, worked with five University of Cincinnati students enrolled in a historic preservation class in the School of Architecture and Interior Design; they did background research and drawings of the Latta Block from its original construction to changes in design and usage over the years. Their work was incorporated as part of the funding request made to the Catalytic Fund.
The renovated row house will be sold at market rate, giving the Ludlow Historic Society the opportunity to purchase other properties for restoration.
The Ludlow Historic Society has become known in the region for showcasing the city’s historic homes and neighborhoods. In October it commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Ludlow Lagoon Amusement Park which thrived at the turn of the twentieth century.
The organization currently has 50 members led by a nine member board comprised of residents in art/architecture, real estate, business, and academic professions.
