Deersville Historic Distirct

Deersville is a small ridge-top village in Harrison County, Ohio, and its historic district follows Main Street, the former Moravian Trail. The street was platted by John Cramblett in 1815 and retains the form of a pike town, with houses, churches, hotels and shops fronting a single road. The district counts 34 contributing and 17 noncontributing resources, including a historic cemetery. Most buildings are frame, one to three stories, and date from the 19th century. Many are Italianate, Gothic Revival or Greek Revival, and several are vernacular I-houses. The Union Hotel of 1835, the Methodist church of 1885 and the Presbyterian church of 1879 are among the notable structures. Construction peaked in the 1870s and 1880s, when farming and wool production supported local craftsmen and stores. Population later declined. The 1913 Community Hall, built from donated labor and materials, still has its original theater interior and hosts village meetings and performances. The period of significance is 1815 to 1913.