Mill Worker House No. 1
Why it's listed
Built around 1858 of uncoursed rubble limestone, this 1-1/2 story house at 2665 Stratford Road in Delaware, Ohio, was one of a line of dwellings put up for workers at the nearby paper mill on the Olentangy River. Its saddlebag plan, with two single pens and a central chimney, was originally a double. The land was sold in 1838 to Hosea Williams and Caleb Howard, who built housing for their mill employees. Records show occupancy beginning in 1866, with a series of short tenancies by mill workers. Ownership followed that of the paper mill for decades. The house is significant for its link to the steam-powered paper industry and to the Stratford mill village, a small company town modeled on New England mill hamlets. It also represents the saddlebag house, a vernacular type more often built in log or frame. A 1940s rear addition is hidden from the road, and the original proportions, materials and setting remain legible.
Significance in brief: It is nominated under Criterion A for its ties to the steam-powered paper milling industry and to the Stratford mill village company town, and under Criterion C as a vernacular saddlebag house. Its ownership mirrored that of the adjacent paper mill, and the house keeps enough original features and setting to convey its mid-19th-century role.
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 91001431, listed October 3, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2665 Stratford Rd., Delaware |
|---|---|
| County | Delaware County |
| Listed | October 3, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91001431 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1858-1896 |
| Architectural style | Other: Saddlebag (vernacular) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Community Planning and Development, Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as a single dwelling; a 1940s rear addition and some interior changes are noted, and a noncontributing garage with carport stands on the lot. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.25883, -83.06313 (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 91001431.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137762090
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.