THE EXTERIOR
Five Oaks stands on a hill rising from Fourth Street, where it intersects North Avenue. The lot stretches eastward the length of a block to Fifth Street. Originally Fourth and Fifth Streets were called Prospect and Cedar Streets, respectively. On the north, a drive enters through an iron gate from the east and runs the length of the lot onto Fourth Street. There is a porte-cachere along the way, where carriages may have drawn up; it has a porch to allow entrance to the house and a roof giving protection against the weather as callers alighted. Something interesting about this roof is its attachment to the neighboring house. Today an automobile would find the drive rather narrow.
As mentioned earlier five oaks trees, giving the house the name Five Oaks, originally were part of the setting. Five were not there for long, however, for Mrs. McClymonds received a letter addressed Four Oaks and a stump. In the meantime a storm had taken toll of one. Within the past year an oak has been planted so that today by count there are again five oaks. It is likely that there has been another replacement over the years for an oak in the front yard does not seem to have the girth of the others at least one hundred years old. At the northwest corner of the lot stands a rare tree, of which there are few in northeastern Ohio. It is a weeping beech with a companion blue beech.
At one time there was a cover at the corner of the backyard next to North Street. It provided protection to seats beneath. What a delightful place the spot would have been to enjoy a breeze on a warm day! Also, at this early time a rose garden graced the backyard.
Sandstone from the Everhard stone quarry at the northwest edge of Massillon was used for the exterior. As many as forty to fifty men skilled in handling stone, some imported from Scotland, worked on the house. The masons received $1.50 for ten hours of work. The sculptors 50 cents per hour. Matching the beautiful hand-carved wood of the interior is the hand-sculptured stone of the exterior. Extensive and exquisite carving surrounds the front window and appears at various places on the front porch and at the side entrance. Some of the windows are centered with sculptured pillars. One has only to life his eyes to find a surprise and attractive sculpture.
In the gable peak of the left front is a square with the monogram “R McC,” the initials of Russell and McClymonds. It calls to mind the wife and husband of the original Five Oaks family.
Another special attraction is three lions. As lions are prominent in the interior, so are they on the outside. One holding a lamp stands erect on a high pedestal to the right of the front steps. Two are high on the roof. The one in the middle position once held a weathervane.
The castle-like front entrance is quite impressive. Surrounded by a bluntly-pointed Gothic stone arch, two massive oak doors are recessed the depth of the outer wall. They are fitted, top and bottom, with strap iron hinges. In its upper portion, each has a panel of glass covered with an iron grating. The two doors open into a wide vestibule, aneled in white oak like that of the great hall.