Mattoon-Woodrow House
Also known as: Lowder Residence; Ladd-Mattoon House
Why it's listed
This two-story brick house at 72 E. North Street in Worthington, Ohio, was built in the Federal style for Caleb Ladd. It has a gable roof of slate, a limestone foundation, white-painted brick walls and a five-bay front. The house originally stood at the southwest corner of North and High Streets and was moved to its present location in 1932, when a rear wood section was added. Inside, wide floor boards and cherry stairs survive. The house is valued as a representative of the simplicity and symmetry of early nineteenth century architecture. It is also important as the home of Ansel Mattoon, a prominent local abolitionist, and as the center of local abolitionist activities. A later review changed its name to Mattoon-Woodrow House and revised its construction date to 1837-40, replacing the earlier 1820 estimate. The property is part of the Worthington multiple resource area.
Significance in brief: The inventory form presents it as a representative example of the simplicity and symmetry of early 19th century architecture. It is also important as the home of Ansel Mattoon, a prominent local abolitionist, and as a center of local abolitionist activity.
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 80003011, listed April 17, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 72 E. North St., Worthington |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | April 17, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003011 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Caleb Ladd (builder) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Inventory lists interior and exterior condition as good; used as a residence. The house was moved in 1932 and a rear wood section was added. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Worthington Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.09292, -83.01541 (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 80003011.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138338364
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.