Hirons-Brown House
Why it's listed
Built in 1847 by Ezekiel Hirons, this two-story brick farmhouse southwest of Buford, Ohio, measures forty-five by thirty-six feet and combines late Greek Revival form with Gothic detailing. Each side is divided into three bays by full-height pilasters, and the hip roof carries a deck and a bracketed wood cornice. The front door has Gothic sidelights, and a curving main stairway is a standout interior feature. The house is far grander than most rural southwest Ohio homes of its time. Hirons, whose family came from Kentucky in 1812 and became prominent landowners, farmers and storekeepers, bought the farm in 1835 and lived in a log house until this one was built. The Brown family bought the property in 1854. Tradition holds that the house served as an Underground Railroad stop, with a basement tunnel toward White Oak Creek and a trap door beneath the stairs. The brick kiln and a family cemetery remain nearby.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a well-preserved late Greek Revival building with Gothic detailing, built on a much grander scale than is typical for rural southwest Ohio. It was also reputedly a station on the Underground Railroad before and during the Civil War, under the Brown family. It is described as a fine farm home of a successful early settler.
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 76001455, listed December 12, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SW of Buford on Guernsey Rd., Buford |
|---|---|
| County | Highland County |
| Listed | December 12, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001455 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1847 |
| Architect / builder | Ezekiel Hirons |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and occupied as a private residence; the stone front porch was slated for removal for restoration. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 39.06410, -83.86436 (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 76001455.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138359052
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.