Bailey-Thompson House
Why it's listed
Built in 1830 at 112 N. Water Street in Georgetown, Ohio, this brick house follows the temple form of the Greek Revival style. It rises two and a half stories, with a two-story portico carried on four round, plastered brick columns resting on sandstone blocks. A log lean-to on the north side was replaced in 1876 by a two-story brick addition. Architect E. Hubbard Baker later built the Brown County Courthouse and several other Georgetown buildings. The house was first owned by Dr. George Bailey, a physician active in politics, whose family shared a double house for about a year with the family of Jesse Grant, father of Ulysses S. Grant. Attorney William Jesse Thompson bought the home from the Bailey heirs in 1876. Its few alterations and its southern Ohio setting, where the temple form is uncommon, are cited as reasons for its importance.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an excellent example of the temple form of Greek Revival, a form found across Ohio but less often in the southern part of the state. It has had few alterations and is one of Georgetown's earliest homes. It is also tied to two prominent local families, those of Dr. George Bailey and attorney W. J. Thompson, and to the boyhood circle of Ulysses S. Grant.
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 76001373, listed November 7, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 112 N. Water St., Georgetown |
|---|---|
| County | Brown County |
| Listed | November 7, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001373 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1830, addition 1876 |
| Architect / builder | E. Hubbard Baker |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival (temple form) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition and in use as a private residence, occupied, with updated wiring, heating and plumbing around 1937. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.86642, -83.90134 (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 76001373.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4848327
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.