225 Summit Avenue

The brick home owned by Mike and Kim Tarquinio is located at the south end of the block on the west side of Summit Avenue. The property includes Lot 296 in the Bellevue Land Company’s “Sunnyside Plan of Lots,” a division of the old Bayne Farm.

Lot 296 was associated with the adjacent Lot 295 (203 Summit) until 1938. In May 1909 the Chartiers Trust Company sold the two lots to George G. Schmidt who in July 1909 sold Lot 295 to Sarah M. Rowand, wife of William H. Rowand, for $1,750, and he sold Lot 296 to Nannie A. Rowand, wife of Thomas Rowand (see 203 Summit Avenue information). In October 1938 Gaius and Esther Slosser conveyed the vacant Lot 296 to Blanche Wodley Robison, wife of Ernest Robison, for $1.00. The couple probably built the house at 225 Summit Avenue soon after they purchased the lot, and they lived there for the next 33 years. After Blanche died of cardiac disease on 1968, Ernest remained at 225 Summit for another three years.

Mr. Robison heard that he would be getting new neighbors next door at 203. He was not very keen on having a family of 11 move in such close proximity to him so he started a petition to keep the family off Summit Avenue. Fortunately, that didn’t stop the new neighbors from moving in, and Mr. Robison became a good friend, even teaching the children how to garden.

The property was sold several more times before being purchased by the Tarquinios. Kim and Mike have made many improvements since moving in including removing the wallpaper from the walls and ceilings and opting for lighter design choices than the red velvet drapes that were part of the décor when they moved in. Refinished hardwood floors, the addition of a chair rail and crown molding to the dining room, and central air conditioning were also part of the Tarquinios’ improvements. They also added a primary bedroom ensuite to the space that was once a sleeping porch and bumped out the kitchen onto the back porch. Before adding a new ensuite bathroom, the Tarquinios remodeled the original bath which had a red, white, and blue theme, including a hand painted fire engine red toilet. The side porch and adjoining deck make great space for entertaining as does the basement family room.

Mike and Kim live at the property with their three children and Paige, the wonder dog (because they wonder what she’ll do next).