Brown, Seth, House
Why it's listed
This small frame house at 29 Brown Street in Monroeville, Ohio, is a modest example of the Greek Revival temple form. Its front portico carries three slender Doric columns, an uneven number that is very rare, while the entablature is well proportioned to the roof and pediment. Decorative frets sawed from wood sit in the frieze, providing light and ventilation and forming the dominant feature of the design. An L-shaped wing with a veranda extends to the west, and a kitchen was added later. Inside are three main-floor rooms with woodwork that appears original. Tradition links the house to Seth Brown, who arrived in 1816 and whose land became the village laid out in 1817, or to his son Seth Brown Jr. A date of 1820 is often given, but because temple-form houses did not reach the East until the mid-1820s, construction no earlier than 1830, and possibly as late as 1845, seems more likely. Its architectural quality is the main reason for its recognition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant chiefly for its architecture, as an unusually fine example of a small temple-form house. Its portico has an odd number of columns (three Doric), which is rare, and the sawed wooden frets in the frieze are an unusual surviving ornament. The traditional 1820 date is doubted, with a date between 1830 and 1845 considered more likely.
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 74001531, listed May 3, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 29 Brown St., Monroeville |
|---|---|
| County | Huron County |
| Listed | May 3, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001531 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival (small temple-form house) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition and altered, with a later kitchen addition; on its original site and used as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.25104, -82.70569 (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 74001531.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138373922
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.