Buttles, Aurora, House
Also known as: Brown,Sidney,House
Why it's listed
Located on a corner lot at 12 East Stafford Avenue in Worthington, Ohio, this two-story brick house was built in the Federal style for Sidney Brown, who ran a grocery nearby. Its rectangular plan has a gable roof with shingles, a limestone foundation, a five-bay front, a large end-wall chimney and very modest wooden cornice trim. Later changes include a small vestibule on the front, metal caps over the windows, and a frame wing and garage added to one gable end. The building served as a residence and grocery and was later used for law offices. It was recognized for its proportions, details and symmetry, which are characteristic of pre-Civil War architecture in Ohio, and for its similarity to the Ladd-Mattoon House. It belongs to Worthington's group of early buildings reflecting New England heritage. A 1991 amendment changed its name to the Aurora Buttles House and its construction date from 1838 to 1818.
Significance in brief: The inventory form calls it significant for the proportions, details and symmetry characteristic of pre-Civil War architecture in Ohio. It is described as similar in design to the Ladd-Mattoon House. It is part of the Worthington Multiple Resource Area, an early 19th-century community founded by Episcopalians from Connecticut.
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 80003007, listed April 17, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 12 E. Strafford Ave., Worthington |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | April 17, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003007 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Inventory (1980) lists the exterior and interior as good and the building as used for law offices, in a zoned commercial area. Additions include a frame wing and garage and a small vestibule. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Worthington Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.09108, -83.01747 (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 80003007.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138338078
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.