Ehresman, Christian, Farm
Also known as: But-300-4
Why it's listed
Just south of the village of Trenton in Butler County, Ohio, this brick farmhouse was built in 1867-68 by Christian Ehresman, an Amish Mennonite who came to America in 1840. He bought the land and began the house, but died in 1868 before it was finished, and the farm passed to his son, Otto. It remained in Mennonite hands until 1924. The two-story L-shaped house has flat lintels and sills, six-over-six windows, a central doorway with transom and sidelights, a cut stone water table, and two internal end chimneys. Inside, a center hallway holds an open stairway. A two-story front portico was added later, but the alterations are reversible and leave the basic Amish/Mennonite house type clear. A small early frame house nearby, with low half-story windows, may have been a summer kitchen or an earlier home. The farm is significant locally as one component of the Augspurger Amish/Mennonite settlement group.
Significance in brief: The farm is considered locally significant as part of the Augspurger Amish/Mennonite Settlement thematic group. The house represents an Amish/Mennonite house type, and the alterations do not obscure that type. The reviewer recommended acceptance under Criteria A and C, covering the farmhouse and summer kitchen.
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 84002903, listed August 3, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 900 Woodsdale Rd., Trenton |
|---|---|
| County | Butler County |
| Listed | August 3, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002903 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1867-68 |
| Architect / builder | Christian Ehresman (builder per history; architect and contractor listed as unknown) |
| Architectural style | Amish/Mennonite house type |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a residence, in fair condition inside and out. A two-story front portico was added, and the form describes these alterations as reversible. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 39.46984, -84.45251 (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 84002903.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5109566
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.