Mount Pleasant Historic District
Why it's listed
Mount Pleasant, in Jefferson County, Ohio, was laid out in 1803 by Jesse Thomas and Robert Carothers, and its core is preserved as a historic district of about 54 acres. Until the 1880s it was the industrial center of the township, and many substantial brick houses and commercial buildings from that period remain, especially around Union Street. Examples include the Benjamin Lundy House, the Samuel Jones row houses, the John Hogg House and Union Hall, built in 1854. The village also drew Quaker settlers who opposed slavery. It became a center of abolitionist activity and an Underground Railroad station. Charles Osborn printed the anti-slavery Philanthropist there in 1817, and from 1848 to 1857 Quakers ran the Free Labor Store, which sold no goods made by slave labor. The district was recognized for this history and for its well-preserved buildings and sites, including the Friends' Meetinghouse and the Seceders Cemetery.
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).
| Period of significance | 19th Century (village founded 1803) |
|---|---|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture, Religion, Social History |
| Acreage | 54 |
| Boundary source | NPS cultural-resource GIS polygon |
| Full listing page | Mount Pleasant 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.