Ferris, Eliphalet, House
Also known as: See Also:Mariemont Historic District
Why it's listed
Built about 1802-1812, this red brick house at 3915 Plainville Road in Mariemont is counted among the oldest buildings in Spencer Township and among the first permanent structures in Hamilton County. Eliphalet Ferris, born in Greenwich, Connecticut, moved west with his brothers and farmed land that is now part of Mariemont and Fairfax. The main block has two and a half stories, a gable roof, interior end chimneys, and a south front laid in Flemish bond. A one and a half story addition extends to the east. Inside, a side hall plan, fireplaces with flanking cupboards, white pine floors and bead and butt doors survive. The house served as a residence until 1923, when it became construction headquarters for the planned community of Mariemont. It was later restored by the local Daughters of the American Revolution and used as an antique shop. Its listing rests on its architectural importance and early date.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the house as one of the oldest structures in Spencer Township and one of the first permanent structures in Hamilton County. It is nominated for its architecture. It was also used as construction headquarters for the planned community of Mariemont in the 1920s.
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 75001431, listed May 29, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 3915 Plainville Rd., Mariemont |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | May 29, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001431 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1802-1812 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and altered; at the time of nomination it was occupied by an architect's office and an educational research firm. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Village of Mariemont |
| Coordinates | 39.14720, -84.37834 (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 75001431.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q630640
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.