The Marlowe Residence on Crescent Street

The Marlowe Residence stood on Crescent Street in Ohio, where the Marlowe family settled in 1909 after Arthur Marlowe commissioned the house following his success as an owner of a regional printing company. The household included Arthur, his wife Helen, their two daughters, and Arthur’s widowed mother, who remained with the family until the 1920s. Their income depended on commercial printing contracts and newspaper orders, which supported the property’s upkeep.

Historical records describe the residence as an active family home with occupied bedrooms, regular maintenance, and a carefully managed conservatory.

The decline of the Marlowe home began after the 1929 economic crash reduced demand for commercial printing services. In 1930, the company received several overdue account notices, and a local tax record listed delayed payments on the property. The family closed the conservatory during winter months, stopped regular exterior painting, and dismissed the gardener responsible for the small formal grounds. After Arthur Marlowe became ill in 1932, the business weakened further, and his death in 1933 created disagreements between his daughters regarding ownership and inheritance. By 1935, the printing company had closed, forcing Helen to leave the residence with one daughter and move to relatives in another county.

The Marlowe Residence was placed under foreclosure in 1936 after unpaid mortgage obligations, business debts, and accumulated taxes remained unresolved. A public auction was held, but no buyer accepted the cost of restoring the unusual property. Remaining furniture and household items were left behind after relatives removed only personal belongings. No restoration project was completed, and no member of the Marlowe family returned to live there. Through the 1940s, water damage, broken windows, and neglected repairs accelerated the decline of the structure. The residence remains abandoned on Crescent Street, with its ownership records unresolved and the once-active family home continuing to deteriorate.