Armstrong, Joseph, Farm
Also known as: Sterling Farm
Why it's listed
Southeast of Fredericksburg, on a rolling plateau just south of the Wayne County line, sits a farmstead built by an Irish immigrant family. Joseph Armstrong came to Salt Creek Township in 1816, when the land was still primeval forest, and the brick house went up between then and 1826. It is an ell-plan house with a five-bay main block, six-over-six windows, a recessed doorway with sidelights and Tuscan pilasters, and a distinctive molded brick cornice. Behind it stand a brick springhouse and a large hewn-timber bank barn on a sandstone foundation, with a silo, straw barn, sheds and granary. The Armstrong family held the farm until 1913, when a Fredericksburg merchant and banker bought it. It is recognized for its role in settlement, agriculture and architecture, and as an example of immigrant families building farms north of the Greenville Treaty Line. A January 1978 fire gutted the kitchen wing, though much of the main block survived.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the farm is significant for settlement, agriculture and architecture. It was created by an Irish immigrant family and represents immigrant families moving west to farm newly opened land north of the Greenville Treaty Line. The farmstead remains relatively intact in a rural landscape still farmed by Amish and other families.
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 78002088, listed November 27, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SE of Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg |
|---|---|
| County | Holmes County |
| Listed | November 27, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002088 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca1816-26 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival moldings noted in the interior; brick ell-plan house with molded brick cornice |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | A January 1978 fire gutted the kitchen wing and left smoke damage throughout the main block. Exterior restoration of the main block was considered feasible, and the outbuildings needed repair. The land remains in active agricultural use. |
| Acreage | 95.1 |
| Coordinates | 40.66526, -81.85762 (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 78002088.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6281116
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.