Kelly Family Home
Why it's listed
Built in 1876 at 657 South Main Street in Dayton, this two-story brick house is a High Victorian Italianate home typical of a late nineteenth-century middle-class shop keeper. Contractor Andrew Kinninger built it for his son-in-law John Kelly, a Maryland-born man who came to Dayton in 1865 and worked as a plasterer, clerk, baker and later grocer. Exterior features include a high limestone foundation, stilted and segmental arched windows with stone hood molds, a bracketed wood cornice, and a polygonal bay on the south wing. A brick kitchen wing was added in 1880, and a major renovation in 1890 set the interior's final character. Inside, Victorian oak trim, ornamental lattice work between the parlors, a gray marble mantel, a golden oak front parlor and a paneled stairway survive. The house has stayed with the Kelly family for five generations, and its careful preservation is the main reason it was recognized.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a particularly fine, remarkably well-preserved example of a late nineteenth-century middle-class shop keeper's home, especially for its interior detail. It is also tied to continuous ownership by the Kelly family across five generations and to the commercial career of John Kelly, a Dayton baker and grocer.
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 75001501, listed June 30, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 657 S. Main St., Dayton |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | June 30, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001501 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1876) |
| Architect / builder | Andrew Kinninger, contractor |
| Architectural style | High Victorian Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent; altered, on original site; in use as a private residence, with restoration work ongoing. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.74952, -84.18923 (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 75001501.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6386022
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.