Shaub, Martin, Mill Site/House
Also known as: Blackacre Farms
Why it's listed
Set at the end of a long, shady lane beside Raccoon Creek in St. Albans Township, this five-acre property near Alexandria, Ohio, holds a brick miller's house built around 1852 by Martin Shaub. Shaub, born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, bought the tract and its water rights in 1851. The house is a one-and-a-half-story, five-bay structure with a sandstone foundation, a steep slate roof and a central-hall plan. Its steep roof, cottage proportions and masonry construction reflect Pennsylvania German tradition, while the five-bay front and interior end chimneys follow common Ohio house types. Survey work found no comparable house in the township. The site had hosted mills since at least 1817, including carding, saw and grist mills, though none remain. Surviving outbuildings include an outhouse, a shed and a horse barn incorporating hewn timbers from the old sawmill. The property was listed for its architectural interest and its milling history.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an unusual blend of German-influenced cottage design and the central-hall rural Ohio house type, reflecting the Pennsylvania German heritage of its builder. No similar property was found in the township. The tract also has a long association with milling, dating to at least 1817.
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 85000119, listed January 23, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 8259 Duncan Plains Rd., Alexandria |
|---|---|
| County | Licking County |
| Listed | January 23, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85000119 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built by mill owner Martin Shaub) |
| Architectural style | German-influenced rural vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Interior was being rehabilitated at the time of nomination; the exterior is largely original, and the milling structures no longer stand. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 40.10746, -82.64811 (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 85000119.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138458698
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.