Wells, Harvey, House
Also known as: Wells House
Why it's listed
Built in 1883 on the highest point of Wellston's hilly terrain, this two-story Italianate frame house at 403 East A Street was home to Harvey Wells, the founder of the city. It has a low-pitched roof, large wooden lintels over windows and doors, painted wooden quoins and much of its original lap siding. A two-story bay once gave views down both hills into town. Inside, the original staircase newel post and railing, carved entry details and some parquet flooring remain. In the mid-twentieth century it served as a nursing home, and additions from that period were later removed or altered. The house is now vacant and in disrepair, with many windows boarded. Wells developed Wellston through coal mines, iron furnaces, a nail mill and railroad connections, but he died in debt in 1896, and the furnaces, nail works and mines are gone. The house is described as the most intact surviving building associated with him, which supported its listing for his significance.
Significance in brief: The house is nominated under Criterion B for its association with Harvey Wells, founder of the City of Wellston. Wells's business ventures in coal, iron and railroads drove the town's growth. Of the buildings tied to him, the house is the most intact survivor.
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 09000211, listed April 14, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 403 E. A St., Wellston |
|---|---|
| County | Jackson County |
| Listed | April 14, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000211 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1883-1896 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant and not in use; described as in some disrepair, with windows boarded up and mid-twentieth-century nursing home additions partly removed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.12444, -82.53013 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 09000211.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5677675
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.