Thomas Select School
Also known as: The Log Manse
Why it's listed
This two-story log building in Shandon, Butler County, Ohio, measures 29 by 18 feet and dates to about 1810. Its walls are large, hand-hewn rectangular timbers joined by steeple notching, a log construction method popular in Ohio before 1825. A stone chimney stands at the east end, and the gable roof carries asbestos shingles. Doors and windows are new, and the center stairway and other interior features are believed to be later changes. It is unknown whether the building was first built as a school, but by 1820 it housed the Thomas Select School, a private boarding school teaching grammar, math and science, while local girls learned sewing. The Whitewater Congregational Church operated the school, and the Reverend Thomas Thomas, who arrived from England in 1820, also used the building as his manse. The congregation sold the building and about two acres in 1885. It remained in one family until 1947 and is now a summer residence.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant as an early, though altered, Ohio log structure. It is also significant as a very early southwest Ohio school, the Thomas Select School, run by the Whitewater (later Paddy's Run) Congregational Church under the Reverend Thomas Thomas.
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 77001046, listed April 11, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3637 Millville-Shandon Rd., Shandon |
|---|---|
| County | Butler County |
| Listed | April 11, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77001046 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1810 |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as presently used as a summer residence; privately owned and altered. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 39.32843, -84.71448 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 77001046.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7793868
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.