Leftwich House
Why it's listed
Built around 1875 at 203 South Washington Street in Greenville, Ohio, this frame house is a well-preserved example of Eastlake design. It has an irregular plan, a stone foundation with basement, and a four-bay west facade with a pavilion at the right. Its most striking feature is an elaborate porch with shed and gable roofs, the gable decorated in stick style. Segmental windows with two-over-two sash, shaped cornices and blinds, polygonal bays on the north and south sides, bracketed box eaves with a panelled frieze, and a truncated hip roof complete the exterior. A rear kitchen wing carries a second Eastlake porch. The house was listed for its architecture alone, as one of the few remaining unaltered Eastlake examples locally. Little else was known of its history beyond its construction by the father of its last owner. At the time of nomination it was in poor repair and threatened with demolition, and listing was pursued to support its sale and restoration.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant entirely for its architecture, as an excellent and one of the few remaining unaltered examples of the Eastlake style in the area. Little historical data was available. It was put forward as an emergency nomination because the house faced possible demolition.
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 75001373, listed October 21, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 203 S. Washington St., Greenville |
|---|---|
| County | Darke County |
| Listed | October 21, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001373 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1875 |
| Architectural style | Eastlake |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The form describes the house as unoccupied and neglected. The city had ordered it repaired or demolished, and it was reported for sale with demolition being resisted. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.09853, -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.
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 75001373.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6517050
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.