Smith, Edward, Jr., Farm
Why it's listed
Edward Smith Jr. built this two-story brick farmhouse in 1855 on what is now U.S. Route 62 NE, just outside Washington Court House in Fayette County, Ohio. It is a five-bay, single-pile I-house with a rear ell, and its plain wood cornice and sandstone lintels and sills reflect Greek Revival influence. The second-story lintels carry the inscription "Built by E. Smith in 1855." Around 1875 a decorative porch with turned posts, carved spandrels and a maze-like railing was added, along with a connector to a brick summer kitchen or cellar. A late 19th century barn also remains. The property matters as a well-preserved example of rural vernacular architecture showing the change from restrained Greek Revival taste to Folk Victorian ornament. Its surviving outbuildings and unaltered interior, with walnut trim and stenciled doors, set it apart from other local I-houses. After standing vacant and neglected, it was bought and slated for restoration.
Significance in brief: The farm is argued to be significant under Criterion C as an excellent example of rural vernacular architecture influenced by Greek Revival and Folk Victorian elements. The simple I-house with a c. 1875 decorative porch reflects a shift in public taste from plain Greek Revival to more ornamented late 19th century styles. Its outbuildings and high degree of integrity add to its value for understanding early agricultural building types in the county.
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 87002110, listed December 9, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2085 US 62, Washington Court House |
|---|---|
| County | Fayette County |
| Listed | December 9, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87002110 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1855; c. 1875 |
| Architect / builder | Edward Smith Jr. |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival; I-house; Folk Victorian influence (Mid-19th Century) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant for several years and in a neglected state, but saved from possible demolition by a purchase; plans call for restoration as a residence and maintenance of the historic outbuildings. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.55342, -83.42658 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 87002110.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14716410
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.