Iddings, Benjamin, Log House
Why it's listed
Set on the grounds of the Brukner Nature Center near Troy, this two-story, four-room log house was built for Benjamin Iddings, a Scotch-Irish Quaker who came to the Stillwater River bank around 1797 after earlier moves through Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Warren County, Ohio. He chose the site beside a spring that still flows on the bluffs above the river. The exact construction date is uncertain; it may be as early as 1797, though a patent date of 1804 is also cited, and his grandson was almost certainly born there in 1809. The walls use notched log construction beneath weatherboard, with a central front and rear door, an interior stone chimney and a boulder foundation. Local history calls Iddings a prominent citizen, and the house is considered possibly the oldest structure in Miami County. Although deteriorated, a campaign has begun to restore it and use it in the nature center's interpretive program.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be possibly the oldest structure in Miami County. It was built for Benjamin Iddings, a Quaker settler described in local history as a prominent citizen, and shows early pioneer log construction on the Stillwater River.
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 76001497, listed November 21, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 6.5 mi. W of Troy, Troy |
|---|---|
| County | Miami County |
| Listed | November 21, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001497 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Benjamin Iddings (listed as the builder on the data sheet) |
| Architectural style | Log |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as deteriorated, with missing sashes, weatherboard in poor repair and a partly collapsed cellar; a campaign has been started to restore it as part of the nature center's interpretive program. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.01578, -84.31751 (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 76001497.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q116468494
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.