Willow Lane Farm
Also known as: Wilson, Nathaniel, House
Why it's listed
Willow Lane Farm is a two-story frame farmhouse built in 1838 by Nathaniel Wilson III along the old Zanesville-Maysville Pike, now Route 22, west of Lancaster, Ohio. Its Greek Revival design includes a hipped roof, a five-bay front, a center dormer, and six broad pilasters supporting a deep entablature. The center doorway has a one-story porch that reconstructs the original, removed about 1900. Inside is a typical center-hall plan with some alterations. The house sits among farmland at the end of a long lane lined with weeping willows, and the original barn stands about 250 feet northeast. Wilson is also linked to nearby Stonewall Cemetery, a twelve-sided walled plot built in 1838 and 1839 on land he deeded in 1817 as a possible burial ground for President James Monroe. The cemetery is not part of this property. The house was recognized as a fine example of Greek Revival farmhouse architecture and has had only two owning families.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as a fine, stately example of Greek Revival architecture in an early Ohio farmhouse, more sophisticated than ostentatious. It also has a link to Nathaniel Wilson III, who deeded land nearby in 1817 for a presidential burial ground, the separate Stonewall Cemetery.
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 72001009, listed October 26, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SW of Lancaster on U.S. 22, Lancaster |
|---|---|
| County | Fairfield County |
| Listed | October 26, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001009 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1838) |
| Architect / builder | Nathaniel Wilson III (built the house) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as standing in excellent condition and occupied as a private residence; some interior alteration and a reconstructed porch noted. |
| Acreage | 8.5 |
| Coordinates | 39.69281, -82.64499 (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 72001009.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137796302
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.