Erlich, F. W., House
Also known as: Thomas Smith House
Why it's listed
Built in 1892 by Thomas Kemp, who owned much land in the area, this Victorian house at 1908 South Sixth Street in Ironton was bought in 1900 by Frederich W. Erlich, owner of one of the city's largest dry goods businesses. Erlich enlarged it and added the massive turret on the west side, giving the house an irregular outline with gabled, hipped and conical roofs. The exterior has been covered in asbestos siding, though the original wood detailing remains, along with a gingerbread-trimmed porch and beveled leaded glass windows. Inside, the house retains parquet floors including teakwood, pressed cork wainscoting made to resemble leather, six fireplaces with wood mantels and glazed tile hearths, original light fixtures, and a wine cellar. When built it filled an entire block, and it still keeps three of five original lots. It remained in the Erlich family until 1976. It was listed as the finest and largest Victorian house in its neighborhood and for its intact interior.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the finest and largest example of Victorian architecture in this part of Ironton, surrounded by smaller, later, more modest buildings. Its largely unchanged interior is cited as an outstanding example of period craftsmanship. It was built during Ironton's industrial prosperity and is tied to a prominent dry goods merchant.
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 80003134, listed October 3, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1908 S. 6th St., Ironton |
|---|---|
| County | Lawrence County |
| Listed | October 3, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003134 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Thomas Kemp (builder); Frederich W. Erlich enlarged the house |
| Architectural style | Victorian |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence in good condition; exterior covered with asbestos siding but original wood detailing retained. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.52145, -82.67028 (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 80003134.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138458366
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.