J & M Trading Post
Why it's listed
At the crossroads of State Route 598 and County Road 229 in Leesville, this two-story frame building with an attic began as a general store around 1830. Rev. Robert Lee, who founded Leesville in 1829, built and owned it, and his son Robert ran the first local general store here. Later it was known as Pete Herr's Store, Crider's Store and, from 1970, the J & M Trading Post, an antique shop. Business has gone on without interruption since the beginning. The original section sits on a foundation of rusticated stone from the local quarry, and its hand-hewn floor joists still carry some bark. About 1880 a second section was added, the roof was changed from gable to truncated hip and slate, pressed tin siding made to resemble rock-faced stone was applied, and four rooms and a porch were added. The Lee family were prominent in local affairs, and the son served as State Senator and Representative. The site also lies on the main early roads between major Ohio towns.
Significance in brief: The building was built and owned by Rev. Robert Lee, founder of Leesville, and housed the first local general store, with business conducted continuously since. The Lee family were prominent locally, and his son Robert held county and state offices including State Senator and Representative. It also stands at the crossroads of the early Columbus/Cleveland and Mansfield/Bucyrus roads.
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 79002811, listed April 3, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 6867 Leesville Rd., Leesville |
|---|---|
| County | Crawford County |
| Listed | April 3, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002811 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as an antique shop; interior and exterior condition both reported as very good. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.79508, -82.78830 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 79002811.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137636067
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.