Sarchet-Burgess House
Why it's listed
Built about 1830-1833 for Moses Sarchet, this two-story brick house at 145 West Eighth Street in Cambridge, Ohio, is among the oldest buildings in the city, possibly the oldest. The L-shaped house rests on a sandstone foundation and has Flemish bond brickwork, a symmetrical five-bay facade and double-width brick walls about one foot thick. Inside, a walnut staircase with its original spindled balustrade rises from the central hall, and the rooms have poplar ceilings and walnut plank floors. Samuel Burgess bought the house in 1868 and updated it with extended eaves, carved brackets and porches with Tuscan columns, adding Italianate character to the Greek Revival design. The Burgess family kept it until 1951. In the 1930s it served as the county headquarters of the WPA. Sarchet, an immigrant from the Isle of Guernsey, held several county offices and worked as a railroad contractor. The house is valued as an example of changing architectural taste in the nineteenth century.
Significance in brief: The house is significant under Criterion C as an example of Greek Revival influenced architecture with Italianate updates from an 1868 renovation. It is also a good example of a vernacular house type common in this early-settled region. It ranks as one of the oldest, or the oldest, houses in Cambridge.
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 87000808, listed May 21, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 145 W. Eighth St., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Guernsey County |
| Listed | May 21, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000808 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival influenced, with Italianate updates |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in good condition and altered; the 1958 rear addition was the last major change. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Wheeling Avenue Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.02598, -81.59038 (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 87000808.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q111364445
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.