The Eckstein Family (Continued)
Eleanor Eckstein moved from downtown Cincinnati to Glendale with her two sisters, Mary (Kinmont) and Frances, and her two nieces, Jane and Eleanor (Kinmont) in 1868. They moved into a house on East Fountain Avenue (see Lots 9 and 10 on plat map below).
In his book The Suburbs of Cincinnati Sidney Maxwell included the following description of the home.
“…a two-story brick, with verandas on both east and south.
Mrs. Kinmont has a beautiful location. The elevated position affords a fine view of the farm scene to the south and the gradually-rising lands to the east, with the village of Sharon in the distance”.
The family was active in the local community. They were members of Glendale’s Swedenborg Church and the Lyceum.
Frances is believed to have been Glendale’s first centenarian. To mark her 100th birthday local school children were given a half day holiday and a parade marched past Miss Eckstein as she sat on her front porch. The photograph (below) is believed to have been taken on this special occasion.
When Frances died in 1916 Calvin Dill Wilson wrote the following poem as a tribute to her life:
Here she lived, and here she died,
Who was for years the village pride,
One who reached a greater age
Than any other on the page
Of memory’s records of the town;
Yet not her years gave her renown,
But youthful spirit to the last,
Interest in all events that passed,
Genial response, and love for all;
She welcomed every friendly call;
Her zest for life could never pall;
She found new joy in every year,
And every day brought her its cheer;
To old age she brightness gave;
And she went youthful to her grave.’
