Ferris, Joseph, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1820 by Joseph Ferris, this three-and-a-half story red brick house in the Fairfax area of Cincinnati is a good example of Federal Style architecture. It has a gable roof, paired interior end chimneys joined by a parapet, Flemish bond brickwork and a five-bay north facade. The raised center entry features an elliptical fanlight, sidelights, Ionic pilasters and a porch with paired Ionic columns. Ferris, born in Connecticut, moved west shortly after 1799, farmed corn and hogs, and distilled some of the corn, which gave nearby Whiskey Hollow its name. He eventually held over 700 acres and built a brick schoolhouse for his eight children. Excavations for Indian artifacts were carried out near the house around 1900. In the 1930s it served as the Joseph Ferris Memorial Library, later as a restaurant, and it is now an office building. A recent addition stands to the south, and a gasoline station sits in front.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a good example of Federal Style architecture. It is also tied to Joseph Ferris, a prosperous early settler who farmed, distilled corn and acquired over 700 acres. The site later served as a memorial library, restaurant and office building.
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 75001417, listed June 30, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 5729 Dragon Way, Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | June 30, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001417 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (ca. 1820) |
| Architect / builder | Joseph Ferris (builder) |
| Architectural style | Federal Style |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and altered; formerly a library and restaurant, now used as an office building. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Village of Mariemont |
| Coordinates | 39.14128, -84.39175 (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 75001417.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6283069
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.