Campbell, Hugh, House
Also known as: Phoenix Park; Elsen Residence
Why it's listed
Phoenix Park is a farm complex at the end of Weathervane Road near Harrison, Ohio, centered on a brick Italianate Villa built around 1858-60 by Hugh Campbell. The T-shaped house has a stone foundation, a four-story tower with a mansard roof and wrought-iron railing, slate roofs, and a flat-roofed porch with carved railings and pillars. Its exterior is unaltered, and the interior keeps original marble fireplaces and many gas light fixtures. The property also includes an L-shaped brick carriage house with a cupola, a stone-based water tower, stables and a gambrel-roofed frame barn. Campbell, born in County Tyrone, Ireland, became a contractor who built railroads, bridges and many Cincinnati sewers. His farm once covered 400 acres, where he bred Jersey and Shorthorn cattle, sheep and hogs. The six-acre remainder is surrounded by modern development and is the last trace of Harrison's earlier rural landscape. It was recognized as an excellent example of mid-century villa architecture and rural life.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as an excellent example of mid-nineteenth century Italianate Villa architecture and is unaltered on the exterior. With the mid-century farm buildings, it illustrates rural life at that time and is the only remainder of the once rural area of Harrison. It was also the home of Hugh Campbell, a prominent contractor and builder of sewers, railroads and bridges.
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 76001448, listed November 7, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 332 Weathervane Rd., Harrison |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | November 7, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001448 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1858-60 |
| Architect / builder | Hugh Campbell |
| Architectural style | Italianate Villa (with Second Empire elements) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied and used as a private residence; the house exterior is described as unaltered. |
| Acreage | 6 |
| Coordinates | 39.25084, -84.81179 (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 76001448.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5930253
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.