Joyce, Jacob O., House
Also known as: Steamboat House
Why it's listed
Perched on a hill in eastern Dayton and overlooking the city, this brick house at 6 Josie Street is known locally as the Steamboat House. Albert McClure, a Dayton realtor, built it in 1852. Jacob Osler Joyce bought it after 1881 and reshaped it in 1889, adding Queen Anne dormers with triangular multi-paned windows, a balustraded widow's walk, a back kitchen, interior woodwork and the wrap-around porches that give the house its nickname. In 1903 he deepened the basement and added a bath and four rooms. Joyce designed and built lifting jacks for railroad cars and founded the Joyce-Cridland Company, which moved to Dayton in 1876. The house stayed in his family until 1919. By 1975, after years as a multi-family rental, it was slated for demolition, but a new owner purchased and restored it. It was listed for its Victorian architecture and its link to Joyce.
Significance in brief: The house is an exuberant example of Victorian architecture, notable for its massing, Queen Anne dormers, shingle work and wrap-around steamboat porches. It is also associated with Jacob O. Joyce, designer and builder of lifting jacks and founder of the Joyce-Cridland Company. It is a focal point of a potential historic district of workingmen's cottages.
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 83004321, listed November 25, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 6 Josie St., Dayton |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | November 25, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004321 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Builder/Architect unknown (originally built by Albert McClure, a realtor; later alterations by Jacob O. Joyce) |
| Architectural style | Victorian, with Queen Anne details |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture, Invention |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; restored by its owner after being slated for demolition in 1975, and described as in excellent condition and unaltered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.75587, -84.17590 (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 83004321.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138634430
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.