Richard Rose Goetchius (1814-1875) came to Columbus from New York in 1834 and quickly established himself as a prominent builder and architect. He built this grand Greek Revival cottage as a gift for his wife, Mary Ann Bennett Goetchius (1819-1878), upon their marriage in 1839. It originally stood at 11th Street and 2nd Avenue but was moved circa 1970 to save it from commercial development.
All six of the Goetchius children, five sons and a daughter, were born in the house. The two eldest sons died in the Civil War. Another son died in early childhood. One son became a Columbus lawyer and another a Presbyterian minister. Their daughter, Mary Goetchius McKinley, died in childbirth, and her daughter Mary McKinley Wellborn, eventually inherited the house. It remained in the family until 1969.
It has been completely restored by its new owners, who have transformed it into a popular gourmet restaurant.
National Register of Historic Places
Thankful that someone had the wisdom and ability to save this house from demolition with the approach of encroaching development! A shame to lose the history on its original location; but sometimes that simply can’t be helped. “Half a loaf is better than none.”
Athens, GA, lost a lot of gorgeous older houses, 50-60 years ago, as the original owners died or moved on, and commercial development came in and tore down without any consideration of historical treasure being lost. The commercial buildings which replaced them were primarily nondescript box-like buildings with no architectural beauty at all. An indescribable loss to that community!