Old Hotel, The
Also known as: Spring Valley Hotel; Sanders House; The Village House; The Vill
Why it's listed
Built around 1852 on West Main Street in Spring Valley, Ohio, this two-and-a-half story frame building served for decades as the town's only hotel. It stands beside the old railroad bed, and traveling salesmen arriving on evening trains stayed here before hiring buggies to call on customers in nearby towns. Its weatherboard walls, standing seam roof, seven-bay facade and Greek Revival main entrance with a small iron balcony reflect a vernacular design. The central hall plan, two rooms deep, resembles a double-pile house, while the public rooms on the first floor and small sleeping rooms above follow the pattern of early commercial blocks. Jesse Sanders ran the hotel until 1882, and it was still operating in 1918. Automobiles and better roads reduced the need for such hotels by the 1920s, and later owners used rooms for boarding, a post office, and a doctor's office. It was listed for its commercial and architectural importance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an excellent example of the small-town hotels that served railroad travelers before the automobile age. It was Spring Valley's only hotel and is one of few surviving buildings tied to the railroad's arrival. Architecturally it is vernacular, combining the two-part commercial block and double-pile house types with modest Greek Revival touches.
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 88001296, listed August 25, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 100--101 1/2 W. Main St., Spring Valley |
|---|---|
| County | Greene County |
| Listed | August 25, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88001296 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1852-1920 |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century; vernacular with Greek Revival influence |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed current function is vacant/not in use; the building has been used for storage since the 1970s. Two deteriorated rear additions were demolished in November 1987. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Main Street Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.60828, -84.00943 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 88001296.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138348698
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.