Bell House
Why it's listed
Located at 53-57 N. Main Street near the center of downtown Fredericktown, this two-story Greek Revival building dates to 1843. It has a wood frame with clapboard siding, a sandstone foundation and a slate gable roof. The front has five bays, and an elaborate central entrance is framed by pilasters and an entablature. To the left, a storefront with large plate glass windows was inserted later, and the remaining windows keep their shutters but have replacement sash. At the rear the roof slopes down to form a saltbox shape, and a long, low one-story wing extends beyond. Harvey Bell owned the building for many years and used it as a residence, but the original owner is not known. The building is considered significant for its rare saltbox form and its early date of construction. It now serves a commercial use and is in good condition inside and out.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant for its rare saltbox shape and early date of construction. It was long used as a residence by Harvey Bell, though the original owner is unknown.
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 79003856, listed November 6, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 53--57 N. Main St., Fredericktown |
|---|---|
| County | Knox County |
| Listed | November 6, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003856 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is commercial; interior and exterior condition are both listed as good. A storefront has been inserted and the windows have replacement sash. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.48197, -82.54353 (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 79003856.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.