Washburn, Rev. Ebenezer, House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1833 by Reverend Ebenezer Washburn, this small frame residence on Sunbury Road in Central College, Franklin County, Ohio, is a 1½-story house five bays wide and two deep with a gable roof. Its best feature is the entrance, flanked by flattened engaged columns and topped by a decorative entablature and frieze, with heart-shaped and fluted fan motifs. The six-panel door is original, the windows are double-hung twelve-over-twelve sash, and a brick chimney stands at the north end. Two interior mantelpieces survive, one echoing the columns of the front door. A one-story addition was built at the rear. Washburn lived here until his death in 1873. He was instrumental in developing the Presbyterian Church in Blendon Township, Blendon Institute and Central College. The house is one of four well-preserved buildings that together represent the historic resources of this tiny village, which was platted in 1849 as Amalthea.
Significance in brief: The house is one of four well-preserved historic buildings representing the small village of Central College. It was the home of Reverend Washburn, who helped develop the Presbyterian Church in Blendon Township, Blendon Institute and Central College. It also has a refined Federal-style entrance and original interior mantelpieces.
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 80003004, listed November 25, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 7121 Sunbury Rd., Westerville |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | November 25, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003004 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Reverend Ebenezer Washburn (builder) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good and unaltered in part, with a one-story rear addition; used as a residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.10426, -82.88833 (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 80003004.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138337651
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.