An array of abodes stand out over years

AJim Weiker

fter writing about homes and real estate for almost a decade, this is my last On The House column, as I assume my new role as Business Editor at The Dispatch.

I've been fortunate in this job to get a look inside hundreds of terrific Ohio homes. As I close the door on this column, I’ll mention a few of my favorites.

• The most memorable home I've visited since starting this job in 2009 is called Waterwood Estate, a 38,000-square-foot eccentricity on the shore of Lake Erie near Vermillion.

The home was designed in the 1980s by Washington architect Hugh Newell Jacobsen for Cleveland industrialist Donald Brown and his wife, Shirley. Waterwood consisted of 20 square white concrete pods linked together, like pearls on a string, stretching longer than two football fields. Each pod seemed like a bright jewel box with a spectacular view.

• Two years ago, Gerry and Anne Hudson welcomed me into their wonderful home in Madison County’s Hidden Creek neighborhood.

Built in the early 2000s, the home is a gorgeous blend of wood and stone overlooking Little Darby Creek. With its combination of Prairie, Craftsman and Shingle styles, the home oozes warmth and beauty. And with its timber rising 30 feet at the peak, there’s plenty of drama in the mix.

• “Modern farmhouse” has become a cliche, which is a pity because the style can be authentic and refreshing when done right.

One of the first — and still one of the best — examples