Bush, Samuel, House
Also known as: Turner, Herbert M., Residence; Spook Hollow
Why it's listed
This two-story brick farmhouse in Lancaster, Ohio, combines a kitchen ell built around 1808 with a main block added around 1834. The bricks were fired on the property and are laid in Flemish bond on the south front and American bond elsewhere. Walnut window frames and lintels, shutters with hinges dated 1857, a panelled front door and a cherry-banistered stair survive. Inside, the rooms have carved and panelled woodwork and random-width floors, while the old kitchen has a wide fireplace. The land began as a presidential patent to Noah Zane, passed to Thomas Worthington, then to Samuel Graybill, and was bought by Samuel Bush in 1834. Local tradition says Bush had the house built as a copy of his Pennsylvania wife's family home. Bush family members lived there until 1955. The house was listed as a fine, well-preserved early farmhouse of Fairfield County and southern Ohio, restored with a compatible modern addition at the rear.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the house as a fine example of an early Fairfield County and southern Ohio farmhouse in exceptionally good condition. It is also tied to early land ownership by Noah Zane, Thomas Worthington and Samuel Graybill, and to the Bush family, early county settlers who lived there until 1955.
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 74001478, listed October 1, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1934 Cold Spring Dr., Lancaster |
|---|---|
| County | Fairfield County |
| Listed | October 1, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001478 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific dates 1808 and 1834) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in excellent condition, occupied as a private residence, carefully restored with rundown additions removed and a new compatible rear addition built. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 39.73750, -82.61909 (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 74001478.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137801574
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.