Sells, Benjamin, Barn #1
Why it's listed
Dating from about 1850, this two-story barn on Hayden Run Road near Dublin was part of the homestead of Benjamin Sells, an early settler in the area. Sells built it himself. He came to the Ohio region in 1802 with his wife and three brothers, and the family were among the first settlers of Washington Township. The barn is a vertical plank-frame building with a gable roof of standing-seam metal, set on a coursed fieldstone foundation laid without mortar. It measures roughly 45 by 30 feet and is built into a rise in the hill, with stalls on the lower level. Sliding doors open on the north side. Inside, the original marked and pegged framing survives. A one-story shed addition was added to the rear after 1935. The surrounding setting is farmland with slightly hilly terrain that smooths into fields. The interior is in excellent condition, while the roofing and siding need repair.
Significance in brief: The barn is an early farm building associated with the homestead of Benjamin Sells, an early settler in the Dublin area, who built it. Sells arrived in the Ohio region in 1802 with his wife and three brothers, and they were among Washington Township's first settlers.
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 79003133, listed April 11, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 4586 Hayden Run Rd., Dublin |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | April 11, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003133 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Built by B. Sells (Benjamin Sells) |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Interior condition listed as excellent and exterior as fair; roofing and siding noted as in need of repair. Present use is still as a barn. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.06816, -83.11552 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 79003133.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.