Lloyd, John Uri, House
Why it's listed
Standing at 3901 Clifton Avenue in Cincinnati, this three-story stone house is a large Romanesque Revival residence built about 1890. It is rectangular in plan, with a central shingled turret dominating the south-facing front, a slate roof with half-timbered gable ends, an entrance portico with cushion columns, and an open porch along the east side. The architect was James W. McLaughlin, a founder of the Cincinnati Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. It was built for Sol P. Kineon, a coal and coke dealer, who lived there from 1885 until 1908. From 1909 until the mid 1930s it was the home of John Uri Lloyd, an author, pharmacist, inventor and founder of colloidal chemistry, who led the National Eclectic Medical Association and taught at two Cincinnati colleges. His personal library, together with the library from his drug business, formed the nucleus of the Lloyd Library. Because of its site and massive scale, the house remains a prominent Clifton landmark.
Significance in brief: The house is nominated for its architecture, as an example of the Romanesque Revival taste popular in Cincinnati and Clifton among affluent residents. It is also significant as the home of John Uri Lloyd, an author, pharmacist, inventor and founder of colloidal chemistry, whose personal library became the nucleus of the Lloyd Library. Its site and massive scale make it a prominent landmark in Clifton.
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 73001461, listed March 7, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 3901 Clifton Ave., Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | March 7, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001461 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (ca. 1890) |
| Architect / builder | James W. McLaughlin (architect) |
| Architectural style | Romanesque (Romanesque Revival) |
| Areas of significance | Science, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a private residence; condition listed as good and unaltered, on its original site. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Clifton Avenue Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.15727, -84.51752 (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 73001461.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6261605
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.