Dye, John Minor, Stone House
Also known as: Dye Stone Blockhouse
Why it's listed
Built about 1813 by Captain John Minor Dye, this two-story limestone house near Casstown in Miami County, Ohio, is known locally as the Dye Blockhouse. Its walls are two feet thick, and its pyramidal roof, with a gable to the south, resembles roofs on log blockhouses. Settlers reportedly sheltered there after attacks in August 1813, during the War of 1812, and the Dye family had been in the area since 1799. The house is described as the only reported stone building used as a blockhouse in Ohio. A stone kitchen with a fieldstone fireplace was added in 1825, and later owners added rear sections in the twentieth century. A brick smokehouse and a stone springhouse from the nineteenth century are also part of the property. The house has had only two owning families, which helped it survive, and it remains a private residence whose original blockhouse character is still intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a rare example of a stone fortification used by Ohio's pioneer settlers during the War of 1812. It is described as the only reported stone building used as a blockhouse in the state, and its early date adds to its architectural value. Its survival is credited to having been owned by only two families.
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 83002008, listed July 7, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 9 S. Children's Home Rd., Troy |
|---|---|
| County | Miami County |
| Listed | July 7, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83002008 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | John Minor Dye (builder; the form lists Builder/Architect as N/A) |
| Areas of significance | Military, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and carefully maintained as a private residence; altered by later additions but described as retaining the integrity of the original blockhouse. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Elizabeth Township Rural Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.03032, -84.13484 (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 83002008.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6248948
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.