Montgomery Saltbox Houses
Why it's listed
Two adjoining houses on Cooper Road in Montgomery, Ohio, one of frame and one of brick, preserve a rare local take on the New England saltbox. Both began as simple Federal style two-story buildings, and rear lean-tos later gave them the sloping saltbox roofline. Parts of the frame house date from about 1810 to 1825, and the brick house is said to date from 1810. Inside, hand-hewn ceiling joists, a summer beam, random-width plank floors and a massive early fireplace show early construction methods. They are the only known examples of this house type left in Hamilton County. They also recall Montgomery's beginnings: settlers from Montgomery, New York arrived in 1795, and Nathaniel Terwilliger platted the village in 1802 along what is now Cooper Road. Lodowick Weller, who came in 1806-07, is credited with building the brick house. Once residences, the houses became shops in the 1970s and were being rehabilitated as the focus of a new shopping plaza.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues significance under Criterion A for ties to the early settlement of Southwest Ohio by families from Montgomery, New York, and to Montgomery's original east-west plat. Under Criterion C, they are the only known local interpretations of the New England saltbox house type left in Hamilton County. They also show early construction techniques such as hand-hewn joists and a summer beam.
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 87001254, listed July 28, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 7789 and 7795 Cooper Rd., Montgomery |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | July 28, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001254 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1825 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (the text says local records credit Lodowick Weller with building the brick house) |
| Architectural style | Federal style buildings with later saltbox lean-to additions |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Both houses were used as specialty shops from the 1970s and were being rehabilitated to be rented as small shops in front of a new shopping plaza. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.22632, -84.35536 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 87001254.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6905779
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.