Mayer, S. C., House
Also known as: Rhine Main Associates
Why it's listed
This three-story residence at 1614 Main Street in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine area was completed in 1889 for S. C. Mayer. Samuel Hannaford & Sons designed it, one of several buildings the firm produced for the Mayer family. The asymmetrical three-bay front is faced in smooth sandstone and topped with a slate-style mansard roof, now covered in asbestos shingle, pierced by three rectangular dormers. A raised first floor is reached by a steep cast iron stairway, which allows an entrance at basement level. Incised window surrounds, small wrought iron balustrades, scored pilasters and paired brackets decorate the facade, while the north and south walls are blind common bond brick. The form describes the front as an excellent Italianate design under a French Second Empire roof. Unlike most neighbors, the house sits back from the street. It was listed as part of a thematic group recognizing the work of Hannaford, a prominent Cincinnati architect.
Significance in brief: It was built for S. C. Mayer and is one of many Cincinnati buildings Hannaford designed for the Mayer family. It combines an Italianate facade with a French Second Empire mansard roof. It was listed as part of a thematic group of Samuel Hannaford's work.
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 80003063, listed March 3, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1614 Main St., Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | March 3, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003063 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1889 |
| Architect / builder | Samuel Hannaford & Sons (architect); builder unknown |
| Architectural style | French Second Empire |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as multi-family housing; interior condition fair, exterior good. The inventory form describes the surrounding area as having deteriorating nineteenth-century buildings. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.11328, -84.51213 (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 80003063.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7387400
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.