Savage-Stewart House
Also known as: Ackley Farm
Why it's listed
Built beginning around 1804, this two-story, five-bay brick farmhouse near Canaanville in Athens County has Flemish bond walls about 12 inches thick, a center hall, and a saw-tooth brick cornice. The main entrance has an Adams Style doorway with flanking fluted columns. Inside, much of the woodwork appears original, including a cherry handrail and two original mantels. It was apparently built for Captain Abijah Savage, a Connecticut Revolutionary War veteran who received the land in 1792 as payment for military service. Later owners included the Hurlbert and Stewart families. It is among the earliest identified buildings in the county, and local tradition says it served as the model for the Daniel Stewart home, Federalton. The farm complex includes hand-hewn log and timber outbuildings and a large barn, with pre-1930 farm equipment still inside. The farm operated until the 1930s, when it was abandoned, and it retains a view of early agricultural life on the Hocking River bottom land.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for its early 19th century architecture and is among the earliest identified buildings in Athens County. Its entrance columns, saw-tooth cornice and stair bannister reflect the delicate detailing of early Ohio. Oral tradition holds it was the model for Federalton, and the farm complex preserves a glimpse of early 20th century agriculture with its equipment.
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 80002939, listed February 8, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SE of Canaanville on U.S. 50, Canaanville |
|---|---|
| County | Athens County |
| Listed | February 8, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002939 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Adams Style entrance (early 19th century) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in fair condition and unaltered on its original site. The farm was abandoned in the 1930s and has seen little maintenance since; the carriage barn has recently collapsed. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 39.31193, -81.97581 (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 80002939.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7427690
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.