Talcott, Joseph, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1825 at 354 River Street in Madison, Ohio, this 1-1/2 story wood-frame house combines Federal and Greek Revival features. A central gabled block is flanked by symmetrical wings and holds a recessed porch framed with corner blocks and molding. Two square porch posts carry very simple moldings, and the eaves have a frieze and cornice returns. Windows are double-hung sash with six-over-one and four-over-one panes, and the house sits on a rubble stone foundation under a shingled gable roof. It was built for Joseph Talcott, one of Madison's earliest settlers, who was in the area before the first grist mill of 1809 and at the time of Perry's Battle of Lake Erie. Talcott worked as a blacksmith and a singing teacher. The house was listed for its unusual early classical design, unique in the village, and for its link to the settlement period. It stands on part of what was once a large, prosperous farm, and it has been reported to be deteriorating through neglect.
Significance in brief: Joseph Talcott was one of Madison's earliest settlers, present before the first grist mill (1809) and during Perry's Battle of Lake Erie. He worked as a blacksmith and singing teacher. The house is described as one of the most unusual examples of early classical architecture in the village, with a unique configuration in Madison.
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 80003131, listed October 20, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 354 River St., Madison |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Listed | October 20, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003131 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federal-Greek transitional |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Exterior condition is fair; the property is being allowed to deteriorate after acquisition by land developers, and is listed as endangered by neglect. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.76512, -81.04854 (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 80003131.
- 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.