Pottorf, Henry and Mary, House and Farmstead
Also known as: Car-44-2
Why it's listed
This farmstead on Meter Road near Mechanicstown in Carroll County, Ohio, centers on a two-story brick I-house built in 1858 for Henry and Mary Pottorf. The house has a sandstone foundation, a five-bay symmetrical facade, a central entry with sidelights and transom, and a second-floor door above an arcaded porch. Inside, a central hall and the original woodwork, staircase and plaster survive. Other resources include a wood frame bank barn from 1914, milk houses from 1920 and 1940, and a well that may predate the house. The nomination presents the house as a good local Greek Revival I-house and the grouped buildings as a typical northern Carroll County farm, comparing it with farmsteads recorded in the county survey. The property is also noted locally as the birthplace of the Pottorfs' grandson John L. G. Pottorf, a longtime Canton high school principal. It has been used continuously as a farmhouse since it was built.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues significance under Criterion C in architecture. The house is a good local example of a Greek Revival I-house, with a central hall plan that may be a transitional form. Together the buildings form a good example of a typical northern Carroll County farmstead, showing 19th and 20th century agricultural architecture.
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 95000171, listed March 9, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 4071 Meter Rd., Mechanicstown |
|---|---|
| County | Carroll County |
| Listed | March 9, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000171 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1858-1940 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The form says the house has been in continuous use as a farmhouse since construction and retains a high degree of exterior and interior integrity. The well still provides drinking water. |
| Acreage | 1.7 |
| Coordinates | 40.66291, -81.00786 (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 95000171.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137605393
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.