Wilder-Swaim House
Why it's listed
Set within a thirteen-acre community park at 7650 Cooper Road in Montgomery, Ohio, this frame house was built in two stages. A small one-and-one-half-story section dates from about 1815 to 1832, and a larger two-and-one-half-story addition followed around 1840. The main block has clapboard walls, eight-over-eight windows, Federal-style carved wood mantels, and a frieze with a geometric design and rectangular panels. A shed-roof rear addition holds the kitchen, bath and laundry, keeping modern needs apart from the older fabric. The house is valued as an example of early Federal vernacular building that has survived the redevelopment and demolition affecting many of its contemporaries. Its low frame wing with shallow gable roof shows Tidewater influences uncommon in southwestern Ohio. The Wilder family lived here from 1833 to 1879, and the Swaim family from 1917 to 1976. The city, which owns the property, plans to use it as a focal point for community activities.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a representative example of early Federal vernacular architecture in Montgomery and one of the community's best surviving antebellum frame buildings. It retains its design and materials integrity, with a decorative frieze and subtle Tidewater influences rare in southwestern Ohio. Its two-stage construction also reflects the evolution of early settlement in Montgomery.
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 81000438, listed May 20, 1981. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 7650 Cooper Rd., Montgomery |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | May 20, 1981 |
| Reference number | 81000438 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1815-1832 (original building); c. 1840 (large addition) |
| Architectural style | Early Federal vernacular |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the City of Montgomery and located within a thirteen-acre community park; the form lists it as occupied with work in progress, and the city intends to use it as a community and historical center. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 39.22822, -84.35992 (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 81000438.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8001082
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.