Plainview Farm
Also known as: Darius W. Weddle Farm
Why it's listed
Plainview Farm is a 234.5-acre working farmstead on Weddle Road near Casstown in Miami County, Ohio. It is unusual in having two farmhouses: a small brick house built by Isaac Studebaker in 1868-69 for tenants, and a large 1893 Queen Anne residence built by Darius Weddle, set back from the road on a knoll. Other buildings include an 1880 brick summer kitchen, a smoke house, two late nineteenth-century bank barns and a 1920s garage. The farm was listed because of Weddle, one of the area's first scientific and commercial farmers. He cleared glacial boulders, laid more than 33,000 feet of drainage tile to reclaim 60 acres of swamp, rotated crops, applied lime, and ran a substation for the Ohio State Experimental Station. His corn yields exceeded the county average. His brick Queen Anne house, with original woodwork, stained glass and fireplaces, reflects his standing as a progressive farmer.
Significance in brief: The farm was the home of Darius W. Weddle, an early scientific and commercial farmer in eastern Miami County whose drainage, crop rotation, liming and experimental crops made his farm one of the most prosperous in the county. The 1893 brick house is also cited as an excellent example of Queen Anne style, chosen over the typical frame farmhouse. Together the house, older house and outbuildings reflect his agricultural career.
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 85000857, listed April 18, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 535-545 Weddle Rd., Casstown |
|---|---|
| County | Miami County |
| Listed | April 18, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85000857 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- (specific date 1893) |
| Architect / builder | Builder/architect unknown; the 1893 house was built by Darius Weddle and the 1868-69 house by Isaac Studebaker |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Both houses remain residences and are described as free from serious neglect; the form notes the porch of the 1893 house has deteriorated and uses a temporary support post. |
| Acreage | 234.5 |
| Within district | Elizabeth Township Rural Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.03649, -84.08849 (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 85000857.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138589380
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.