Stringer Stone House
Also known as: Bayless,John B.,House
Why it's listed
Built in 1836 by John B. Bayless, who came to Ohio from Maryland in 1829, this massive sandstone house in Rayland rises three and a half stories above a flood-prone river flat. Its main doors sit at second-floor level, front and rear, probably because of river flooding, and there is no basement. The 18-inch-thick ashlar walls carry six-over-six and twelve-over-twelve sash windows. A steeply pitched gable roof is interrupted by bridged double end chimneys, leaving a flat area in place of a ridge. Inside, a central hall is flanked by four 19-by-19-foot rooms on each of the upper floors. The house faces away from the highway toward the river. It was always a residence, though its size suggests an inn. The Stringer family owned it from 1859. Described as one of Ohio's largest stone houses, it was nominated partly because a proposed highway would pass only a few yards from its front.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the largest stone houses in Ohio and possibly the finest of its kind in the state. It cites its unusually good condition, all-stone construction from ground to chimney cap, its orientation away from the road, and its distinctive bridged chimneys and flattened ridge line. A proposed highway route passing a few yards in front of the house also made recognition urgent.
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 74001538, listed July 10, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 224 Warren St., Rayland |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | July 10, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001538 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1836) |
| Architect / builder | John B. Bayless (builder/original owner) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition and altered in minor ways (later dormers and rear porch). Used as a private residence. The family was unable to continue maintenance and was offering it for sale. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.18735, -80.68815 (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 74001538.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7624010
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.