Thompson, Enoch, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1850 along State Route 661 southwest of Mount Vernon, this two-story farmhouse in Miller Township, Knox County, is an unusual example of picturesque Gothic Revival design. The square house sits on a whitewashed cut stone foundation and is covered in vertical board and batten siding. Four large intersecting gables form the roof, each trimmed with carved bargeboard and a circular attic window. The entrance porch has a concave gable roof, a decorative finial and a Greek Revival style door with square Tuscan-capital columns. A recessed rear porch has ogee-arched trim. The compact plan may reflect the ideas of O.S. Fowler, who favored simple geometric houses. The farm began with Cornelius Thompson, who bought the land in 1810 and passed it to his son Enoch, who owned a 100-acre farm by 1871. Some exterior deterioration and lost finials were noted, and restoration was under way.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a highly unusual example of picturesque Gothic Revival architecture. Its compact square plan, roof of four large intersecting gables and intricate bargeboard trim are described as comparing favorably with the best carpenter gothic work in Ohio. It also keeps Greek Revival elements and is thought to reflect the influence of O.S. Fowler.
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 80003107, listed November 25, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SW of Mount Vernon on OH 661, Mount Vernon |
|---|---|
| County | Knox County |
| Listed | November 25, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003107 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1850 |
| Architectural style | Picturesque Gothic Revival (carpenter gothic) with Greek Revival elements |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition, with some exterior deterioration and loss of finials; restoration was in progress at the time of nomination. Listed as occupied and used as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 40.26900, -82.51633 (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 80003107.
- 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.