Bushnell-Foos Historic District
Also known as: Bushnell, Asa, Residence; Foos, John, Residence
Why it's listed
Two large Victorian houses on a ridge above East High Street in Springfield, Ohio, make up this district. The John Foos Residence, built in 1870, is a two-story limestone house with carved pilasters, segmental pediments and a bracketed cornice in the Italian Renaissance style. Foos was a manufacturer who built a leading oil mill business and later bought several other companies. Next to it is the Asa Bushnell Residence, completed in 1888 by the firm of H. H. Richardson of Chicago. Built of rock-faced granite with a red tile roof, a gabled dormer, a porch of three arches and a porte-cochere, it is considered an outstanding example of Richardsonian Romanesque. Bushnell was a Springfield businessman who later served as Governor of Ohio. The houses were listed as fine examples of their styles and as reflections of the differing social outlooks of two periods in the 19th century. The Foos house now operates as a catering inn, and the Bushnell house as a funeral home.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the two houses are outstanding, irreplaceable examples of two high Victorian styles, Italian Renaissance and Richardsonian Romanesque. It also notes that their builders, manufacturer John Foos and businessman and Ohio Governor Asa Bushnell, were important to Springfield's development. Together the houses show the social values of two close periods of the 19th century.
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 14000764, listed March 20, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 810 & 838 E. High St., Springfield |
|---|---|
| County | Clark County |
| Listed | March 20, 1973 |
| Reference number | 14000764 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific dates 1870 & 1888) |
| Architect / builder | Bushnell Residence built by the firm of H. H. Richardson of Chicago for Asa Bushnell; Foos Residence built for John Foos (architect not named) |
| Architectural style | Italian Renaissance (Foos Residence) and Richardsonian Romanesque (Bushnell Residence) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The Foos house is presently used as the Ker-Deer Inn, a private catering establishment, and the Bushnell house serves as a funeral home. The form lists both as occupied. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.92222, -83.79667 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 14000764.
- 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.