Martin House
Also known as: The Heritage House
Why it's listed
Built between about 1847 and 1852 by John C. Martin on land belonging to his wife's father, Ezekiel Rigdon, this two-story red brick house on Beechmont Avenue in Cincinnati combines a vernacular rear section with a Transitional front block. The symmetrical five-bay facade has a bracketed portico with octagonal columns, a center gable with a circular window, and a low gable roof. Inside, a central hall separates two parlors, and a secret staircase once ran from a closet. Later additions extend to the north. In 1893 the Sisters of St. Joseph bought the house, using it as a retreat, school, convent and novitiate. After standing vacant from 1959 to 1969, it served as a football locker room and a seasonal haunted house before a restoration in 1977. It was listed as a well-preserved example of Transitional architecture with local historical associations.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its architectural style, integrity and local history. It is described as a good example of Transitional architecture, one of few remaining houses of its style in the area, and it retains most of its original elements. It also has a history tied to the Sisters of St. Joseph and the Mt. Washington area.
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 79001859, listed March 21, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 6500 Beechmont Ave., Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | March 21, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001859 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built by John C. Martin) |
| Architectural style | Transitional (front block, c. 1852); Vernacular (original c. 1847 section) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in excellent condition and altered. It was restored in 1977 and is again a residence for four Sisters of St. Joseph. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.13071, -84.35848 (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 79001859.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6775712
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.