Telephone Building, Old
Why it's listed
Built around 1840 at the northeast corner of College and Chestnut Streets in Fredericktown, this two-story wood-frame cottage began as a residence. For many years it housed the village telephone company offices, and a cement floor in the living room dates from that period. It has since returned to residential use. The building is a modest but well-preserved example of Greek Revival design. Corner pilasters and an entablature with partial returns mark the gable ends, and the centered front entrance has plain pilasters supporting a simple entablature. The walls are clapboard, the roof is a gabled asphalt type, and a small wing extends to the rear. The foundation is stone. It sits in a quiet residential neighborhood, with a tall tree directly in front. Its survey record lists both interior and exterior condition as good. It was included as part of a group of historic resources in Fredericktown.
Significance in brief: The building is described as a simple, well-preserved example of Greek Revival architecture. It also served for many years as the telephone company offices for the village before reverting to residential use.
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 79003872, 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 | 79003872 |
| 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 | 40.48268, -82.54414 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 79003872.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138392546
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.