Lewis, Dr. A. C., House
Why it's listed
Built around 1845 at 103 South Street in Winchester, Ohio, this two-story brick house is a five-bay, one-room-deep "I" house with a rear kitchen wing that gives it an L-shape. Greek Revival influence shows in the front entrance, which has recessed columns and a transom, and in carved and fluted mantel details inside. The interior keeps its original floorplan, woodwork and an open cherry staircase. Dr. Abel Lewis, a New York native who trained in Cincinnati, became Winchester's first resident physician in 1835 and practiced there for fifty-five years. He worked with anti-slavery leaders John Rankin and Dyer Burgess and joined the Free Soil Presbyterian Church after the congregation split in 1848. Local tradition says the home served as an Underground Railroad station, though no written record confirms it. The house is valued for this abolitionist link and as an intact example of a common southern Ohio building type.
Significance in brief: The house is significant mainly for its association with Dr. Abel Lewis, a leading abolitionist in Winchester before the Civil War. Local tradition holds that it was an Underground Railroad station, though no written documentation exists. It is also significant as a well-preserved example of the traditional full classical "I" house with Greek Revival influence.
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) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80002931, listed October 31, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 103 South St., Winchester |
|---|---|
| County | Adams County |
| Listed | October 31, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002931 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Full classical "I" house with Greek Revival influence |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; described as in excellent condition, unaltered and on its original site, with a removable modern aluminum porch as the only exterior detraction. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.94120, -83.65140 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80002931.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137593254
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.