Harry Hake, Jr. (ca. 1902-1968) designed and built his own residence at 1025 Laurel Avenue at the corner of West Sharon on the site of the old Glendale Female College after it was torn down. After study at the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University, Hake, Jr., joined his father’s firm. Harry Hake, Sr. opened his own office ca. 1901, practiced with Charles H. Kuck from 1915-1947. The firm was Hake & Son 1945-48, Hake & Hake, Jr., 1945-70, then Hake & Partners, including Harry Hake, III, 1971-78.

The specialty of Harry Hake, Sr. was accurately applying historical styles, as seen in the Neo-Classical Western & Southern Life Insurance Co. Building (1916), and the Adamesque Queen City Club (1925-27). He was known for his varied and charming neighborhood fire stations; including Hyde Park, Clifton and what is now the Cincinnati Fire Museum downtown. The firm’s work displayed great refinement and subtle surface texture on large-scale buildings, such as the handsome Art Deco Cincinnati & Suburban Bell Telephone Co., at Elm and 7th Sts. Notice the headsets and telephones in the frieze. The Hakes also designed a series of suburban telephone exchanges in a variety of period styles. The telephone exchange at the corner of Sharon and Laurel is probably among them. Hake, Jr. was involved in designing numerous office buildings, factories and warehouses, as well as the famous Crosley Field, in the West End.