Isham, John, House
Why it's listed
Overlooking the Maumee River in Waterville, Ohio, this two-story frame farmhouse was built in 1853-55 in the Greek Revival style. Its three-bay facade has a prominent entrance with sidelights, pilasters and a full entablature, double-hung six-over-six windows, plain frieze and cornice, and a foundation of large dressed stone blocks. A bedroom wing was added in 1949 and a small addition in 1970 that echoes the original facade. The house was built for John G. Isham, born in New York in 1815, who worked on the Miami and Erie Canal and served as superintendent of repairs on its northern division from 1858 to 1861. The canal ran along the river in front of the property. The house is considered one of the best preserved examples of a Greek Revival farmhouse type once common in the lower Maumee Valley, and it has remained in the same family since construction.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is one of the finest and best preserved frame farmhouses of its type in the lower Maumee region, where good Greek Revival examples are fewer than in northeast Ohio. It is also tied to John G. Isham, who worked on and later supervised repairs for the Miami and Erie Canal, which ran past the front of the property. The house has stayed in the same family since it was built.
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 82005388, listed August 9, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 8460 S. River Rd., Waterville |
|---|---|
| County | Lucas County |
| Listed | August 9, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82005388 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition, altered, on its original site, and occupied as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 41.48145, -83.75083 (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 82005388.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138559548
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.