Square 13 Historic District
Also known as: See Also:Sherman, John, Birthplace
Why it's listed
Square 13 is a 24-acre section of Lancaster, Ohio, laid out by Ebenezer Zane in 1800 and soon the hub of the town's residential area. The district gathers brick and frame houses and a church built from about 1806 through the mid-1800s, showing a continuous run of 19th-century styles. Federal and Greek Revival houses predominate, including the Reese-Mattox House, the Reese-Peters and Matlack houses, and the Georgian-style house at 105 E. Wheeling Street. St. John's Episcopal Church adds a Gothic Revival note, and Victorian homes and small frame cottages appear as well. Daniel Sifford built many of the major buildings. The area is also linked to notable residents, among them Charles Sherman, whose sons John and William Tecumseh Sherman were born in the frame house at 137 E. Main Street, and Thomas Ewing. The concentration of early houses, many still recognizable despite alterations, is the main reason for the district's recognition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the district holds probably the most outstanding grouping of early 19th-century Federal and Greek Revival homes in the Ohio valley. Many buildings merit individual recognition, and together they create a strong visual impact. The area is also tied to early Lancaster's settlement and to prominent residents such as the Sherman and Ewing families.
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 72001008, listed July 24, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly area along Broad and High Sts. between Mulberry and Chestnut Sts., Lancaster |
|---|---|
| County | Fairfield County |
| Listed | July 24, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001008 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | Daniel Sifford (builder of several houses and St. John's Episcopal Church); Isaac Church (attributed to the Irvin and Effinger houses) |
| Architectural style | Federal, Greek Revival, Georgian, Gothic Revival and Victorian |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is marked good, with some buildings altered; some houses are now used commercially, by a church, or by civic groups. |
| Acreage | 24 |
| Within district | Lancaster Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.71431, -82.60044 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 72001008.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.