Looker, Othniel, House
Why it's listed
This two-story wood frame farmhouse at 10580 Marvin Road in Harrison, Ohio, dates to 1805 and was the home of Othniel Looker, who built it with his two eldest sons after arriving in Hamilton County in 1804. Looker was a weaver and lawyer, served in the Ohio legislature, and was governor in 1814. He was the only Ohio governor who had fought in the Revolutionary War. The Looker family lived here until 1845. The house has a gabled shake roof, a symmetrical west front with two paneled doors, six-over-six windows, and interior end chimneys. Inside, the original woodwork, chair rails and fireplaces survive, including a kitchen hearth with a hand-forged crane and an upstairs room where Looker kept his loom. In 1962 the local historical society took the house apart to save it from demolition, and in 1970 it was reassembled less than three miles away, guided by photographs taken before and during the move.
Significance in brief: The house was the home of Othniel Looker, fifth Governor of Ohio and the only Ohio governor who was a Revolutionary War veteran. It is also one of the oldest structures in the Harrison area. The nomination further describes it as a good, little-altered example of a simple vernacular frame farmhouse of the region.
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 75001429, listed June 5, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 10580 Marvin Rd., Harrison |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | June 5, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001429 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1805 (19th Century) |
| Architect / builder | Othniel Looker and his two eldest sons (built the house) |
| Architectural style | Vernacular frame farmhouse (Federal elements noted) |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Dismantled in 1962 to prevent demolition, then reassembled in 1970 at its present site; condition listed as good and altered, owned by the village historical society, which plans to use it for its collection, library and a basement meeting room. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.26726, -84.80375 (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 75001429.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7108697
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.