Shaw Farm
Why it's listed
Built in 1804 by Albin Shaw, this two-story stone farmhouse near Ross in Butler County, Ohio, is regarded as one of the county's earliest stone houses. It has a gable roof, a five-bay front, and 18-inch coursed rubble walls with stone quoins, built from stone quarried in nearby Colerain Township. Windows are double-hung with flat arches and keystones. A brick addition has replaced the original frame rear addition. Around 1910 the center hall and a winding stairway were removed, and only two of the four original stone fireplaces remain, though the exterior has been cleaned and restored. Albin Shaw came to Ohio in 1799 and joined a company that bought land along the Great Miami River. When the title was questioned, he traveled to Washington in 1804 and returned with papers signed by Thomas Jefferson. His grandson Knowles Shaw, born in the house in 1834, became an evangelist and wrote the song "Bringing in the Sheaves."
Significance in brief: The nomination describes it as one of the earliest stone houses in Butler County and a fine example of an early stone house that looks much as it did when built. It is also tied to Albin Shaw, an early settler who secured land title papers signed by Thomas Jefferson, and to his grandson Knowles Shaw, an evangelist and songwriter.
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 74001405, listed July 24, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3357 Cincinnati-Brookville Rd., Ross |
|---|---|
| County | Butler County |
| Listed | July 24, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001405 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1804) |
| Architect / builder | Albin Shaw (builder) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition and occupied as a private residence; the stone exterior has been cleaned and restored, while the interior has been altered. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 39.30706, -84.67285 (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 74001405.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7491157
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.