Wilson, Samuel and Sally, House
Also known as: Ham-1945-34
Why it's listed
Built in 1849 for Samuel and Sally Wilson, this Greek Revival house sits in College Hill, a nineteenth-century suburban community of Cincinnati. The main block has a symmetrical three-bay front, a large Doric portico, wide Doric corner pilasters and a deep frieze. Its recessed entrance has a transom and sidelights, and the windows are six-over-six. A simple two-story rear wing dates to about 1827-1831 and may belong to an earlier farmhouse. Later changes include asbestos siding over the clapboard, loss of the widow's walk in an 1870 tornado, and a circa 1880 bay window and porch. The house is notable for the Wilson family, who lived there until 1926. Members taught at Farmers' College and the Ohio Female College, served in law and politics, and worked in the ministry and missionary service. As devout Presbyterians, they helped people fleeing slavery, and the homestead was a stop on an Underground Railroad route. Many original furnishings remain inside.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its long association with the Wilson family of College Hill, whose members had careers in education, religion and public service. The family also aided fugitive slaves, and the homestead is described as a stop on an Underground Railroad route from Cincinnati through College Hill to Richmond, Indiana. The house is also noted as a Greek Revival building that kept many original furnishings.
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 00001295, listed November 15, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1502 Aster Place, Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | November 15, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00001295 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific date 1849) |
| Architect / builder | Samuel Wilson |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence at the time of the original form; in good condition, altered with asbestos siding over the original clapboard and later additions. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.19208, -84.54431 (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 00001295.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7412994
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.