{"nrhp_refnum":"81000433","name":"Mercer Log House","other_names":["Mercer-Smith House"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"41 N. 1st St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Fairborn","county":"Greene County","state":"OH","lat":39.823626224000066,"lon":-84.02884745199998,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1981-10-16","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A two-story log house at the southwest corner of North First and Middle Streets in Fairborn, Greene County, Ohio, built on a low fieldstone foundation with steeple corner notching. It dates to the late 18th or early 19th century.","why_significant":"The nomination argues the house is significant as an early 19th century log building whose logs are remarkably well preserved. Most log structures in Ohio lost their integrity when new openings were cut into the original pen. This house offers a rare view of early 19th century design and construction techniques.","narrative":"Standing at the southwest corner of North First and Middle Streets in Fairborn, Ohio, this two-story log house rests on a low fieldstone foundation and uses steeple corner notching. Its low gable roof is shingled, and symmetrical single windows flank central doors on both floors of the facade. A large opening in the south wall once held a big firebox, and the chimney, central porch and a rear addition have since been removed. Its early history is uncertain. A late 19th century descendant of the village founder claimed a 1799 construction date, while the small number of openings and the large fireplace opening suggest a late 18th or early 19th century origin. Robert Mercer is the first recorded owner, in 1817, when the area was platted as Fairfield. The lot was the first sold in the village, and a tax increase in 1829 hints at enlargement or construction then. The logs are unusually well preserved, giving a rare look at early building methods. The city owns it and plans a museum.","period_of_significance":"ca 1799-1829","architect_builder":null,"architectural_style":null,"criteria":[],"status_note":"Owned by the City of Fairborn and vacant, with work in progress. The porch and rear addition have been removed, and restoration for museum use is planned. Condition is rated fair.","vacant_flag":true,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:53:12.483962-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_OH/81000433.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/81000433/469c2fbfa0-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/81000433/469c2fbfa0-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Nyttend","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mercer_Log_House.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Nyttend</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mercer_Log_House.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71988720","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercer_Log_House","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6818291"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/ohio/greene-county/mercer-log-house-81000433/"}