Booth Homestead
Also known as: Booth Home Place
Why it's listed
North of Guernsey in rural Wheeling Township, this brick farmhouse was built between 1849 and 1853 for James Booth, an English immigrant and stock farmer. Family documents say a dowry of about $1,600 paid for the land and the house. The L-shaped dwelling is laid in common bond on a tooled sandstone foundation. Its five-bay south facade has a trabeated main doorway with plain pilasters and sidelights, a gable roof with original polychromatic decoration, and a restrained molded cornice. Inside, a central hallway I-house plan survives, with pilastered fireplaces, random-width floors and an open-string stair. A wood frame addition of the 1920s is the only major change. Booth eventually controlled upwards of 700 acres and shipped cattle regularly to Pittsburgh markets. The house is valued as a well-preserved example of classically inspired vernacular architecture and of the farming heritage of northern Guernsey County. An 1880s barn stands to the east.
Significance in brief: It is nominated as an outstanding example of a mid-nineteenth-century farmhouse built along traditional lines with Greek Revival ornamental details. It remains substantially as built, with only minor alterations. It is also tied to James Booth, a prominent stock farmer who held upwards of 700 acres.
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 79001851, listed September 6, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | N of Guernsey at 8433 Wheeling Twnshp. Rd, Guernsey |
|---|---|
| County | Guernsey County |
| Listed | September 6, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001851 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | James Booth |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival details on a traditional farmhouse; classically-inspired vernacular architecture |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Marked occupied and in good condition on the form; the interior is minimally altered and the house is substantially as built. |
| Acreage | 12 |
| Coordinates | 40.20670, -81.57679 (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 79001851.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4943872
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.