Finley, Ebenezer, House
Why it's listed
This two-story brick farmhouse, dated 1853 by an inscription on a paired-window lintel, sits on the north side of State Route 313 near Senecaville in Guernsey County, Ohio. It has an ell-shaped plan, a symmetrical five-bay facade, a central doorway with transom and sidelights, and a shed-roofed porch with slender Tuscan-type columns. Greek Revival touches include partial cornice returns in the gables. It was built for Ebenezer Finley (1813-1890), whose father settled the land in 1814. Finley farmed, bought large herds of cattle and drove them to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Buffalo, and served as township trustee, county infirmary director and Presbyterian Church trustee. The house stood on the Clay Pike, the main stock-driving route between Zanesville and Wheeling. It was listed for its local association with Finley and the cattle-driving trade. The property stayed in the Finley family into the 1940s. It is now vacant and in need of restoration, and the nominated boundary covers only the main house.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is locally significant for its association with Ebenezer Finley, a successful farmer, cattleman and civic servant. It also represents the cattle-driving industry that was important in Guernsey County, since it stood on the Clay Pike drovers' route. It is presented as a well-preserved example of brick vernacular architecture with Greek Revival details. The final reviewer recommended acceptance under Criterion B only.
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 86000417, listed February 28, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | E of Buffalo on OH 313, Buffalo |
|---|---|
| County | Guernsey County |
| Listed | February 28, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000417 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Vernacular brick with Greek Revival details |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house is vacant and in deteriorated to fair condition, and the surrounding land is used as a Christmas tree farm. A porch on the northeast ell has collapsed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.92453, -81.49343 (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.
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 86000417.
- 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.