Finney-Darrah House
Also known as: Scenery Hill
Why it's listed
Scenery Hill is a two-story brick house with a low hipped roof, built in 1823 by Joseph Finney on the farm he established in Belmont County, Ohio. It has a five-bay facade and a recessed Greek Revival entrance with transom and sidelights. Inside, a broad central hall holds a dog-leg staircase with a cherry handrail, and several original mantels survive. About 1914 the original kitchen wing, which had a large cooking fireplace, was replaced with a wood frame addition, and a four-bay porch was added across the front. The house is listed for its association with Finney's grandson, Dr. Joseph W. Darrah (1858-1942), a country doctor and civic leader in Martin's Ferry. He served on the Board of Education and Board of Trade, helped found the Citizens' Savings Bank, and organized the volunteer fire department. His firemen's racing team won a national title in Atlanta. His wife was the first woman in the city to vote after women's suffrage.
Significance in brief: The house is nominated as the long-time home of Dr. Joseph W. Darrah, a prominent citizen of Martin's Ferry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Darrah served on the Board of Education and the Board of Trade, helped found the Citizens' Savings Bank, and organized the Volunteer Fire Department. His Independent Firemen's Racing Team won a national first-place award in Atlanta.
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 82003546, listed March 15, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Scenary Hill, Martin's Ferry |
|---|---|
| County | Belmont County |
| Listed | March 15, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003546 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Joseph Finney, builder |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition, altered, on its original site, and occupied as a private residence; the property remains in the family. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.10062, -80.73912 (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 82003546.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137599982
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.