Stonehurst
Also known as: Martin Farm
Why it's listed
Stonehurst is a two-story fieldstone farmhouse completed in 1816, about two miles north of Ripley in Brown County, Ohio. Alexander Martin, a Revolutionary War soldier, bought the farm in 1798, lived first in a log cabin, and then built the stone house. A 1799 petition asked the territorial governor to appoint him Justice of the Peace, and later court minutes show him presiding as a magistrate. The house has a central hall plan, end chimneys, a straight gable roof and almost no ornament apart from stone set vertically above the windows. Its local stone walls remain plumb. A later frame addition on the south side was slated for removal during restoration. The farm was among the first established in this stretch of the Ohio Valley, and it has remained with Martin's descendants. A family cemetery 250 feet east holds Martin's grave, marked by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as an excellent example of early stone architecture in southwestern Ohio, showing the plain, functional style of pioneer homes. It was built by Alexander Martin, a Revolutionary War veteran and territorial Justice of the Peace, on one of the first farms in this part of the Ohio Valley. The property has also stayed in the Martin family.
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 75001327, listed October 10, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2 mi. N of Ripley off U.S. 68, Ripley |
|---|---|
| County | Brown County |
| Listed | October 10, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001327 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1816) |
| Architectural style | Georgian; typical colonial dwelling with end chimneys and central hall plan |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition, unaltered and on its original site, and occupied as a private residence. The later frame section was slated for dismantling during a planned restoration. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 38.78223, -83.85603 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 75001327.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.