Old Gothic Barns
Why it's listed
Two wooden farm barns on Colerain Avenue in Cincinnati were built around 1840-50 in the Gothic Revival style, an unusual choice for farm buildings. The larger barn is a frame structure of hand-hewn timbers with board-and-batten walls, steeply pitched intersecting roofs of wood shingle, and carved brackets under the eaves. Its main doors close to form a semicircular arch, and each carries a wooden X. The smaller barn has a square cupola with arched, louvered openings and a pointed spire, along with round gable windows. The barns stood on land that was originally part of the William Bell Estate. Bell was an early pioneer in Green Township who died in 1847. It is believed, but not documented, that the barns predate his death. They were listed because they were judged the purest Gothic Revival farm buildings in southwestern Ohio and were largely unaltered. Later file notes record that the barns were disassembled and moved, and that the smaller one burned.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the barns show an unusually pure Gothic Revival style applied to farm buildings, which it calls unique in southwestern Ohio. They were largely unaltered and kept much of their decorative detail, including bracketed eaves, arched doors and windows, and a spired cupola.
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 76001438, listed July 20, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 6058 Colerain Ave., Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | July 20, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001438 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific dates c.1840-50) |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Later notes in the file say the barns were threatened with demolition, disassembled and moved by the Miami Purchase Association, and that the smaller barn later burned. The fate of the remaining barn is unclear. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.20373, -84.58027 (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 76001438.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7084113
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.