Harper, Samuel, Stone House
Why it's listed
Built in 1841, this two-story sandstone house north of New Concord in western Guernsey County follows the I-house plan: two rooms over two rooms, divided by a central hallway. Its walls are vermiculated sandstone laid in ashlar pattern, and the only ornament is a lintel over the south doorway inscribed "Bilt A.D. 1841 By A. Boal." Windows have plain stone lintels and extended sills, and the gable roof carries interior end chimneys. A large stone cooking fireplace in the west first-floor room was reopened during a later rehabilitation. A board-and-batten addition was added at the rear in 1962, and the farm includes a wood-frame bank barn. The house is valued as a restrained, stone-built example of traditional American architecture from the second quarter of the nineteenth century, and as the work of master mason Archibold Boal (1799-1862), who built at least three other stone dwellings. It was built for the family of William Rainey Harper, later the first president of the University of Chicago.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an essentially intact example of traditional "folk" architecture executed in stone, a material less common than brick or frame for I-houses. It also represents the work of master mason Archibold Boal, who built at least three other stone dwellings in the area. It was built for the family of William Rainey Harper, though he was not strongly associated with it.
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 80003033, listed January 3, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | N of New Concord on SR 416, New Concord |
|---|---|
| County | Guernsey County |
| Listed | January 3, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003033 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1841 |
| Architect / builder | A. Boal |
| Architectural style | Folk architecture; central-hallway I-house |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence; interior described as in a fine state of repair after owner rehabilitation, with a 1962 rear addition. |
| Coordinates | 40.03327, -81.71972 (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 80003033.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7411630
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.