Hise, Daniel Howell, House
Also known as: Unserheim
Why it's listed
Set on a low hill on Franklin Avenue in Salem, Ohio, this two-and-one-half story frame house began in the 1840s as a plain gable-and-wing farmhouse. Between 1857 and 1863, abolitionist Daniel Howell Hise redesigned it in the Gothic Revival manner, with three parallel gables, ornamental barge boards and finials. Ben Hilman and George Fleck built the work. A Colonial Revival porch followed in 1910, and rear and side additions came around 1920. A storage shed from the Hise period is the only surviving outbuilding of the original twenty-two acres. The house is significant for its link to the anti-slavery movement. Hise, who named the home "Unserheim," recorded in his diaries that the Western Anti-Slavery Society's executive committee met there in 1859 and that noted speakers visited. Concealed rooms in the basement and attic are reported to have hidden runaway slaves. Hise also supported women's rights, adding a second reform cause to the property's history.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant under Criteria A and B for its role in the abolition movement in Ohio and its association with Daniel Howell Hise, an abolitionist and reformer. It was a meeting place for anti-slavery figures from 1857 until the Civil War and reportedly contained hidden rooms used to shelter runaway slaves. Hise also took part in the women's rights movement.
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 99000319, listed March 25, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1100 Franklin Av., Salem |
|---|---|
| County | Columbiana County |
| Listed | March 25, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000319 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1857-1878 |
| Architect / builder | Daniel Howell Hise, draftsman from 1857 to 1863; Ben Hilman and George Fleck, builders (1857-1863) |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th century Greek Revival; mid-19th century Gothic Revival; late 19th and early 20th centuries Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic function was single dwelling; current function is multiple dwelling, including a separate apartment in the 1920s south addition. |
| Acreage | 3.6 |
| Coordinates | 40.89216, -80.84192 (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 99000319.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5217533
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.