New Richmond Water Works and Electric Station
Also known as: Cle-457-10
Why it's listed
Built in 1899 on the bank of the Ohio River, this brick plant brought electric street lighting and a public water supply to the village of New Richmond, Ohio. The building is a rectangular one-and-one-half story structure with a limestone foundation, a slate hip roof and a vaulted central room. A stone plaque on the front gives the name and the year. Village voters approved a $30,000 bond issue in 1898, and the arc lamps were first lit on August 7, 1899. Local electric production ended in 1924, when a regional power company took over, but the plant kept pumping water. In 1926 two wings were added to house deep wells, after officials chose to stop drawing from the river. The building survived the 1937 flood and operated until a new water works opened in 1983. It is recognized for its role in local industry and public utilities.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues significance under Criterion A in the area of Industry. For over eighty years the plant supplied vital utility services to the village. It provided both electricity and public water from 1899 to 1924, and was one of the first such facilities in the region. After 1924 it supplied water only, until 1983.
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 93001389, listed December 23, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 701 Washington St., New Richmond |
|---|---|
| County | Clermont County |
| Listed | December 23, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93001389 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1899-1943 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | No Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The plant ceased operation in 1983 when a new water works was built. The form lists the current function as work in progress. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 38.94515, -84.27747 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 93001389.
- 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.