Adams-Gray House
Why it's listed
Built in 1840, this wood frame house in the village of Adams' Mills, once called Preston, sits on a vermiculated sandstone foundation, and the Coshocton County line runs through its rear ell. It has a five-bay facade, a trabeated entrance with transom and sidelights, a Tuscan-columned portico, and a slate gable roof. Inside are fifteen rooms, nine fireplaces, a walnut-balustrade stair and original eight-panel doors. Edward Adams, a landowner and merchant, had it built near his grain mill, which relied on the nearby Ohio-Erie Canal to ship flour. The Adams family later sold it, and it passed to the Gray family, who farmed there until 1961. It is considered the only Classical Revival house in the village and among the best of its style in northern Muskingum County. Two cast-iron firefronts depicting Mazeppa, made at Zanesville's Union Foundry, drew praise from historian I.T. Frary for their workmanship.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the only Classical Revival inspired house in Adams' Mills and one of the best examples of the style in northern Muskingum County. It was built for Edward Adams, a pioneer-family landowner and grain mill merchant. Two cast-iron fireplace firefronts depicting Mazeppa, made at the Union Foundry in Zanesville, were praised by architectural historian I.T. Frary.
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 79001797, listed December 5, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SE of Trinway on Tobacco Hill Rd, Trinway |
|---|---|
| County | Coshocton County |
| Listed | December 5, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001797 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1840 |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as a private residence in excellent condition and altered; the barn is used as an antique retail store. |
| Acreage | 3.5 |
| Within district | Muskingum River Navigation Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.15870, -81.94831 (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 79001797.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4680276
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.