Hewson-Gutting House
Also known as: Gutting House
Why it's listed
Built in 1862 in the Cincinnati suburb of Clifton, this brick house at 515 Lafayette Avenue was constructed for John H. Hewson, a partner in the banking and exchange firm Hewson, White & Co. It rises two stories beneath a Mansard roof with dormers that encloses a full third floor, and a central tower with its own fourth level divides the symmetrical facade. The house was listed because it is a distinctive early example of Second Empire style in Cincinnati domestic architecture, appearing soon after the Civil War. Its central hall plan and balanced front recall earlier classical revival buildings, giving it a restrained, transitional character. The windows show a wide variety of stone arches, some with brackets or incised decoration. A bedroom wing was added in the 1920s, and a rear kitchen and porch were later removed. The nominated area covers the original 4.51 acre lot. The architect or builder is not known.
Significance in brief: The house is a distinctive example of Second Empire style domestic architecture in Cincinnati, appearing there at an early date soon after the Civil War. It keeps traditional features such as a symmetrical facade and floor plan, marking a transition from classical revival styles. Its varied stone window arches are cited as an example of Victorian eclecticism.
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 79001857, listed December 21, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 515 Lafayette Ave., Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | December 21, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001857 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence in excellent condition, altered by a 1920s east wing and later removal of a rear kitchen and porch. |
| Acreage | 4.5 |
| Coordinates | 39.15491, -84.52501 (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 79001857.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5748571
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.