Walker, Cristopher C., House and Farm
Also known as: Old Walker Place
Why it's listed
Set on a hill above State Route 121 southwest of New Madison, this Darke County farmstead preserves the buildings of a prosperous nineteenth-century stock farm. Cristopher C. Walker, born in Maryland in 1829, bought the land in 1862. He first built a small brick house, then a large bank barn in 1879, and finally a two-story brick Italianate house with a three-story mansard-roofed tower in 1884. The house has segmental-arched windows with keystone motifs, bracketed cornices, a polychrome slate roof and a wooden veranda. Inside, a cherry staircase, fourteen-foot ceilings and Eastlake-style details survive. Walker was known for short-horn cattle and Poland-China hogs, and the farm helped establish Darke County as a leading hog-breeding area. The buildings show few changes, and the farm stands out among neighbors that now have modern metal buildings and silos. It was listed for its architecture and its agricultural history.
Significance in brief: The farm is nominated for architecture and agricultural history as an unusually complete and little-altered elaborate nineteenth-century Ohio farm. The mansard-towered Italianate house and large barn reflect the rise of Cristopher C. Walker, a noted breeder of short-horn cattle and Poland-China hogs. The farm helped establish Darke County's reputation for hog breeding.
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 82003561, listed April 7, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SW of New Madison, N of OH 121, New Madison |
|---|---|
| County | Darke County |
| Listed | April 7, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003561 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | High Victorian Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence and working agricultural property; the house interior is described as in excellent condition, though some porches are badly deteriorated. |
| Acreage | 151.7 |
| Coordinates | 39.95075, -84.73465 (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 82003561.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5112045
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.