Ross-Gowdy House
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Why it's listed
Built around 1850 at 125 George Street in the Old Susannah section of New Richmond, this two-story brick house sits roughly 400 feet east of the Ohio River. It has a rectangular plan, a one-story rear extension, a metal roof, three chimneys and sawn stone lintels above the windows. A four-pillar front portico has been lost, but the structure's main walls remain unaltered. The house is linked to two civic leaders. David Ross, an early settler and the town's only baker in 1816, bought the lots in 1829, served as street supervisor, village trustee and recorder, and later became mayor during the Civil War. He sold the house to Thomas A. Gowdy, who served as town recorder, trustee and secretary of the board of education. The house is also regarded as a locally sophisticated example of Greek Revival design. At the time of listing it was vacant, with plans for restoration as a museum.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for its association with David Ross and Thomas A. Gowdy, two prominent nineteenth-century businessmen and civic leaders of New Richmond. It is also described as a locally sophisticated, though altered, example of mid-nineteenth century Greek Revival design. Both men contributed to the historical development of the small Clermont County community.
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 82003554, listed June 1, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 125 George St., New Richmond |
|---|---|
| County | Clermont County |
| Listed | June 1, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003554 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as private, unoccupied and vacant, in altered condition; the owner, a local preservation group, intended to restore it as a headquarters museum. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.94921, -84.28170 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 82003554.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137608642
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.