Branch Hill is an unincorporated community in Miami Township, Clermont County, Ohio, United States, on the banks of the Little Miami River near Loveland.[1] The Little Miami Scenic Trail passes through Branch Hill.

History

The 1872 Branch Hill Bridge spanned the Little Miami River just south of Loveland. It was replaced by the less ornate "Blue Bridge" in 1922.[2]

Until wagon bridges were built across the Little Miami River, settlement of Loveland was mostly confined to the Clermont County side, which had access to a railroad station.[3][4] A wooden bridge spanned the river at Symmestown and what would become Branch Hill from 1850 until it washed out six years later.[5] For years, residents on both sides pushed for a bridge at Loveland, to avoid the long trip to Foster's Crossing or Miamiville, and by 1868 threatened to have Miami Township annexed to Hamilton County if Clermont County officials continued to obstruct the project.[6] A $75,000 suspension bridge was finally built at Symmestown and Branch Hill and dedicated on July 4, 1871. It was anchored by four 7,000-pound (3,200 kg) wrought iron columns, at that time the heaviest ever made in the United States.[5]

The community of Branch Hill was laid out in 1873 by Col. John H. Branch, and named for him.[7]

During the 1930s, Branch Hill was home to the Arrowhead Club, a casino associated with the Cleveland Syndicate that served residents of Indian Hill.[8][9]

References

  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Branch Hill, Ohio
  2. ^ "History of Branch Hill Bridge". History Buffs. Hamilton County Engineer's Office. May 22, 2007. Archived from the original on May 10, 2007. Retrieved June 9, 2007.
  3. ^ "Loveland". History of Clermont County Villages. Clermont County, Ohio. Archived from the original on September 27, 2006.
  4. ^ "Loveland History". Greater Loveland Historical Society. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved February 8, 2009.
  5. ^ a b "The fourth at branch hill". The Cincinnati Daily Enquirer. July 6, 1871. p. 3. ProQuest 878006643.
  6. ^ "Important bridge meeting". The Cincinnati Daily Enquirer. December 1, 1868. p. 8. ProQuest 877420160.
  7. ^ Everts, Louis H. (1880). History of Clermont County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co. p. 470.
  8. ^ Trimble, Gene (January 12, 2009). "The Arrowhead Club". Retrieved January 28, 2009.
  9. ^ Gibson, Chuck (January 27, 2009). "Coffee company helps old building perk up". The Loveland Herald. The Community Press. Retrieved January 27, 2009. Patti's biggest surprise was learning that Branch Hill was a town; Arrowhead Apartments was a casino at the turn of the century and later a golf course.

39°14′44″N 84°17′35″W / 39.24556°N 84.29306°W / 39.24556; -84.29306


Categories