George McConnell house   Save
Ohio Guide Photgraphs
Description: This is a photograph of the George McConnell house in Urbana, Ohio. “The George McConnell House (Joseph P. Fyffe Birthplace), W. Market St., is a beautiful residence in modified Georgian Colonial style. Many of its architectural details, including the stately portico, have been added in recent years. A side elevation overlooks a small stream; and the house is surrounded by great trees. An attractive serpentine brick wall encloses part of the landscaped grounds. In 1856 Joseph P. Fyffe, son of a local doctor, was decorated by Queen Victoria. Fyffe had entered the Navy at the age of 15 (1847), served during the Mexican War, and risen rapidly from the ranks. In 1856 he volunteered for the Grinnel Expedition, which searched the Arctic regions for the Sir John Franklin party. For this service to the Crown, England’s Queen conferred upon Fyffe the Arctic Order of Victoria. During the Civil War, Fyffe (1832-1896) was a rear admiral in the United States Navy. Joseph P. Fyffe’s final resting place is in the Oak Dale Cemetery, at the end of Patrick Avenue, in Urbana, Ohio. George McConnell was co-owner of the Urbana News Company. He and Frank C. Gaumer purchased the Urbana Daily Tribune and the Urbana Daily Times, and merged with the Urbana Daily Citizen, to become the Urbana Daily Times-Citizen.” Writers’ Program (Ohio). (1942). Urbana and Champaign county. Gaumer Pub. Co, Urbana, O., [©1942]. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B14F04_032_001
Subjects: Urbana (Ohio); Historic houses; Architecture--Ohio; Birthplaces; Civil War
Places: Urbana (Ohio); Champaign County (Ohio)