Wright, Lyman, Building
Also known as: Knox County News Office
Why it's listed
Standing at the southeast corner of Main and Second Streets in Fredericktown, this two-story wood-frame building was erected in 1836 by Lyman Wright. It began as a combined residence and shop. Over the years it served as a dressmaker's shop, an undertaker's shop, and later the home and business of a plumber. Clapboard siding covers the rectangular structure, which has a gable roof, a sandstone foundation and a three-bay front. Its large, plain form resembles an early industrial building, while thin pilasters, a cornice and round attic windows show Federal influence within its Greek Revival styling. The north porches and the east wing appear to be later additions. The lot slopes toward the rear, partly covering the first floor, and a large shade tree stands in front. Shops now occupy the lower level with an apartment above. Its listing rests on its unusual character, its early date and its good state of preservation.
Significance in brief: The form describes it as an unusual and very early building that is quite well preserved. It resembles an early industrial building in shape and plan, and it shows Federal influence in its thin pilasters, cornice and round attic windows. It is part of the Fredericktown multiple resource area.
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 79003876, listed November 6, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Main and Second Sts., Fredericktown |
|---|---|
| County | Knox County |
| Listed | November 6, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003876 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Lyman Wright (built the building in 1836) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently in use: shops on the lower level with an apartment above; interior and exterior condition both reported as very good. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.48162, -82.54305 (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 79003876.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138395460
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.