Meeker, Forrest, House and Farm
Why it's listed
Located on Stratford Road near the Olentangy River in Delaware, Ohio, this farm centers on a two-story Flemish bond brick house begun about 1812 and a massive limestone barn from about 1820. The house follows the Federal I-House plan, with five front bays, a central staircase, and a dentil cornice, and a brick ell was added about 1830. The barn, about 84 by 36 feet, is a Sweitzer Forebay type linked to Pennsylvania settlers. Forrest Meeker, born in Vermont in 1769, bought 625 acres here in 1811, including a wood grist mill on the Olentangy. He served in the War of 1812, later sold the mill, which became a paper mill, and gave land for mill workers' housing and a Methodist church. Because his mill has not survived, the house and barn are the only buildings that remain from his life as a mill owner. They also show how farming supported early milling in the area.
Significance in brief: It is tied to Forrest Meeker, an early water-powered mill owner in Delaware Township, and is one of the surviving remnants of the area's early milling era because his mill no longer exists. The house is a well-preserved example of an I-House, and the barn is an excellent example of a Sweitzer Forebay type associated with Pennsylvania settlers. It was nominated under Criteria A, B and C, for agriculture, industry and architecture.
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 91001427, listed October 3, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2690 Stratford Rd., Delaware |
|---|---|
| County | Delaware County |
| Listed | October 3, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91001427 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | C. 1812-1849 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Federal (I-House) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; two 1880s barns were recently demolished and a one-story rear addition was built in 1974. |
| Acreage | 10.1 |
| Coordinates | 40.25831, -83.06397 (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 91001427.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137762012
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.