Second Hosack House
Why it's listed
Standing at the southeast corner of College and Chestnut Streets in Fredericktown, this small Greek Revival cottage dates to about 1840. It is a two-story wood-frame house with clapboard siding, a sandstone foundation and a gable roof covered in asphalt. Its most notable feature is the front entrance, where two pilasters support an entablature over a doorway flanked by side lights. The original shutters appear to remain in place. Later changes were modest: two dormer windows were added on the east side and a porch was built at the rear. The house was owned by the Hosack family, prominent area merchants, who also owned the neighboring house to the east. Local tradition holds that it was built for a Hosack daughter as a wedding gift. It was recognized as a surprisingly intact, attractive example of Greek Revival design. Shade trees surround the house on a small lot in a residential neighborhood, and it continues to serve as a residence in good condition.
Significance in brief: The house was owned by the Hosack family, prominent local merchants, and was supposedly built for a Hosack daughter as a wedding gift. It is described as a surprisingly intact and attractive example of Greek Revival architecture, with an elaborate front entrance and original shutters apparently in place.
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 79003874, listed November 6, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | College and Chestnut Sts., Fredericktown |
|---|---|
| County | Knox County |
| Listed | November 6, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003874 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a residence; interior and exterior condition both described as good. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.48232, -82.54413 (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 79003874.
- 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.