East Town Street Historic District
Why it's listed
East Town Street Historic District covers about 45 acres east of downtown Columbus. It is made up mainly of residences from the mid- to late nineteenth century, some now used as offices, apartments or shops. The houses show a range of styles, including Italianate, Second Empire, Greek Revival and Queen Anne. Among them are an Italianate mansion built around 1852 that served as a temporary Governor's Mansion during the Civil War, the 1852 Kelton House, and the 1873 Spahr House designed by George Bellows, Sr. The district is also linked to national figures. Harry M. Daugherty, later U.S. Attorney General, built a house here in 1904, and Allen G. Thurman, a U.S. Senator and vice-presidential candidate, built one on East Rich Street in 1879. The area has seen some infill and modern intrusions, including small apartment buildings and one high-rise, but the townhouses still dominate its character. It was listed for its architectural distinction and its historical associations.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · catalog entry. Generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29).
| Styles | Varied Victorian-era styles: Italianate, Second Empire, Greek Revival, Queen Anne |
|---|---|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Acreage | 45 |
| Boundary source | NPS cultural-resource GIS polygon |
| Full listing page | East Town Street Historic District (property record) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.