Dublin High Street Historic District
Why it's listed
Dublin's High Street district covers four short blocks of a tree-lined street along the Scioto River, with buildings dating from 1826 to 1890. Early stone houses sit beside simple Victorian frame structures, serving as homes, small shops and antique stores. Dublin was the only town ever to develop in Washington Township and the first settled by early families, drawn by the river and established roads. Notable buildings include the Thomas House, a coursed-rubble Federal tavern of about 1832 built by John Sells for his son-in-law Zenas Hutchinson, later Dublin's first mayor. Others include a c. 1840 brick former tin shop and post office, an Italianate-influenced office with round-arched windows, a log structure beneath shingle siding, and a hotel and home linked to merchant Holcomb Tuller. A few newer small buildings intrude but do little to change the streetscape. The street remains quiet, with low traffic.
Significance in brief: It is the only town to develop in Washington Township and was the area first settled by early families, on the Scioto River near established travel routes. Many buildings have long ties to early settlement, and some are distinguished examples of local architecture. Individual entries include Hutchinson Tavern, built about 1832 for Dublin's first mayor.
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 79003645, listed April 11, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 6-126 High St. (both sides of street)., Dublin |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | April 11, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003645 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1826-1890 |
| Architect / builder | Individual buildings name Zenas Hutchinson and John Sells (Thomas House/Hutchinson Tavern), Lorenzo Buckley (Coles residence), Giles Weaver, and Cornelius Ortmann and Holcomb Tuller; none for the district as a whole. |
| Architectural style | Vernacular, with Federal and Italianate-influenced buildings |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | District buildings are mostly in good condition and used as residences, shops and offices; a few intrusions are newer, undistinguished small buildings. |
| Coordinates | 40.09991, -83.11384 (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 79003645.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q49484335
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.