25 Park Street Madison Ohio History: The Vanderlip Years

By the late 1800s, this house had already seen a few chapters of Madison history, but one of its longest stretches belonged to Kirk Vanderlip and his wife Laura Smead Vanderlip.

Kirk was born in 1843 and Laura in 1834. They were married on May 8, 1867, and built their life here while Madison was growing and changing. And yes - her name was Laura, too. That small detail felt like a quiet connection when I first uncovered it.

Kirk was listed as a farmer and gardener, and Laura as keeping house - which at the time meant running nearly every part of daily life inside the home.

In 1882, a local newspaper reported the rumor that Kirk had sold his house on Safford Street and purchased the old Holbrook place east of the square. That single line marks the moment the Vanderlips became part of the story at 25 Park Street - and gives us a glimpse of how news traveled back then.

Living here placed them right in the middle of village life. Park Street sat within walking distance of the square, Main Street, churches, and local businesses. This wasn’t a farmhouse tucked away from town. It was part of the center of it all.

Kirk was active in public service. Newspapers list him as marshal for the Village of Madison and constable for Madison Township, along with serving as street commissioner and later truant officer. These roles mattered. Streets were dirt or gravel, law enforcement was personal, and village officers were expected to know their neighbors. When something happened, Kirk was often the one called.

In 1891, Constable Vanderlip brought in a prisoner charged with highway robbery after a young boy driving a milk wagon was threatened after dark. The suspect was arrested at the Paige House on Main Street, just east of Park. Moments like that remind us how closely connected this house was to everyday village life.

The Vanderlip home was also social. At one point, Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Grant rented a room on the south side of the house. Renting rooms was common in the late 1800s, especially in homes located close to the square. In a way, that part of the house’s story hasn’t changed much. We still rent rooms here today - though thankfully with a few more modern comforts.

That detail has made us pause. For years, we were told the home was built in three separate sections over time. But if a room was already being rented on the south side in the 1880s, that suggests that portion may have existed earlier than we believed. Later, in a conversation with the son of a woman who grew up in the house, we learned his family added the second bedroom at the back of the south side during their time here, likely in the 1920s or 1930s. So the timeline of how the house evolved isn’t as tidy as we once thought. We’re still digging and will update the story as we confirm more.

In 1897, neighbors gathered at the Vanderlip home to watch the unveiling of the soldiers’ monument, enjoying seats offered by Mr. and Mrs. Vanderlip. Their porch became part of the event. And in a small way, that tradition continues. In the summer, we still gather with friends on the porch to listen to music drifting from the square. Different century, different songs - same front porch.

Laura died of pneumonia on February 8, 1917, and was buried at Fairview Cemetery in Madison. Kirk died on December 24, 1920, from mitral insufficiency, a heart condition, and was laid to rest beside her.

Looking back at the Vanderlip years, we see more than dates. We see a working household, a home that welcomed neighbors, and a couple woven into daily life in Madison. The house at 25 Park Street has always been lived in and connected to the community around it.

The Vanderlips added their chapter to this house, and we’re still uncovering the details they left behind.