Coppess, Benjamin Franklin House
Why it's listed
Built in 1882, this T-shaped brick house at 209 Washington Street in Greenville, Ohio, rests on a rock-face stone foundation and is noted for its Eastlake decoration. The forward leg of the T is surrounded by a veranda and enclosed porch, the most striking part of the design. The veranda has table-leg columns, arches of intricate turning and gouge work, carved gable ends and turned balusters, and it keeps its patterned slate roof. Windows are one-over-one double-hung sash with hoodmoulds and stone lug sills, and the eaves carry brackets. Benjamin Franklin Coppess, grandson of pioneer Adam Coppess, who came to Darke County in 1819, was a successful farmer with 300 acres. He and his wife Maria moved to town and built the house. It is reported to have had the first flush toilet in Greenville. The interior is well-preserved and rather austere Victorian. Later changes include a shortened veranda, an extended side porch, removed cresting and a rear shed addition.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the house as an outstanding example of Eastlake decorative detail, especially on its veranda and enclosed porch. It was the town home of a retired farmer from a pioneer Darke County family. The house is also reported to have had the first flush toilet in Greenville.
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 78002052, listed March 10, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 209 Washington St., Greenville |
|---|---|
| County | Darke County |
| Listed | March 10, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002052 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1882 |
| Architectural style | Eastlake |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Private residence, occupied at the time of nomination; altered, with the original veranda shortened and roof cresting removed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.09844, -84.62992 (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 78002052.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4888625
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.