Gardner House
Also known as: Turner House
Why it's listed
Built in 1896 at 80 W. Granville Road in Worthington, this three-story frame house with horizontal siding, a stone foundation and a gable slate roof is an example of Queen Anne design. Its irregular massing includes several projecting pedimented bays. The front porch was enclosed early in the 20th century, and a small summer kitchen at the rear was once surrounded by an enormous porch. On the third floor, a ballroom with a pointed ceiling is lit partly by triangular windows. The house is associated with Lyman Gardner, who founded the Worthington Savings Bank in 1892, regarded as the first modern bank in the town. It lies in a part of Worthington known as "bankers row", developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The property sits along a main road in a mixed residential and commercial area, with a small detached garage at the rear and heavy landscaping. It is listed for its banking-related history and its porch and ballroom.
Significance in brief: It was the home of Lyman Gardner, who founded the Worthington Savings Bank in 1892, described as the first modern bank in Worthington. It stands in the area known as "bankers row". It is also notable for its massive rear porch and unusual third-floor ballroom, features suited to the size and variety of the Queen Anne style.
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 80003009, listed April 17, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 80 W. Granville Rd., Worthington |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | April 17, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003009 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a residence; interior and exterior condition listed as good. Front porch was enclosed early in the 20th century. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Worthington Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.09121, -83.02028 (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 80003009.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138338119
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.