Sarchet, Peter B., House
Why it's listed
Standing on a high hill about three miles north of Cambridge, Ohio, this small L-shaped dwelling was built in 1831 of smooth-dressed sandstone with very thin mortar joints. It has a slate gable roof, a five-bay south facade, and a carved datestone over the front door. Inside, the central hall and stair are finished in native cherry and black walnut. Peter B. Sarchet, a carpenter-farmer, was the son of Thomas Sarchet, who brought his family from the Isle of Guernsey in 1806 and helped found Cambridge. Local tradition credits a travelling preacher-mason, probably the Rev. William Wallace, with the construction. The house is valued for its link to a founding family and for its stone construction. Most other stone houses in the county follow the I-house plan, while this one uses a story-and-a-half scheme. Local tradition ties its design to Guernsey building customs, though no firm documentation confirms this. Two barns and a garage also stand on the property.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to the Sarchet family, one of Guernsey County's founding families, who emigrated from the Isle of Guernsey in 1806. It is also noted for its dressed-stone construction and its story-and-a-half plan, which differs from the county's other stone houses, mostly I-houses. Local tradition links the design to Isle of Guernsey building, but the revised statement says this has no firm documentation.
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 79001849, listed February 22, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | N of Cambridge on SR 365, Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Guernsey County |
| Listed | February 22, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001849 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Rev. William Wallace (?) |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as occupied and in private residential use; the south wall and chimney are badly deteriorated, and the wall has been stuccoed to stabilize it. |
| Acreage | 10 |
| Coordinates | 40.08402, -81.58681 (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 79001849.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138348877
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.