Robinson-Pavey House
Why it's listed
Standing on a small hill at 421 West Court Street in Washington Court House, this two-story frame house was begun in 1849 for John H. Robinson, co-owner of a spinning and weaving factory, and was habitable around 1850. It is a notable local example of Gothic Revival design, with a steeply pitched roof, carved barge boards, and a centered gable holding a pointed arched window with its original wooden shutters. Greek Revival touches appear in the entrances, which have glass-paneled wooden doors, transoms, sidelights and fluted surrounds. Madison Pavey, a local attorney and banker who bought the house in 1861, added the ornate porches in 1872 and installed marble mantles, interior doors and woodwork in 1883. Only one other Gothic Revival house is known in the city, and none others have been surveyed in the county. The house has been little altered since the early 1920s and remains a single-family home with a ca. 1950 garage.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an excellent example of domestic Gothic Revival architecture with transitional Greek Revival elements. It is one of only two Gothic Revival houses in Washington Court House, and no others have been surveyed in Fayette County. It retains its ornate barge boards, porches and entrances largely unaltered.
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 87000638, listed April 23, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 421 W. Court St., Washington Court House |
|---|---|
| County | Fayette County |
| Listed | April 23, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000638 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | C. 1849-1850 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a single dwelling; the form says it has been maintained by the same family since about 1922 and has not been substantially altered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.53260, -83.44412 (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 87000638.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14716797
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.