Reynolds, John R., House
Why it's listed
Built around 1867 at 24 Klee Street in Dayton, this brick house is a midwestern example of the Second Empire style. It has an irregular plan with a projecting pavilion, a steep slate mansard roof, a turret with an oval dormer and cresting, and semicircular dormers. The central entrance has a decorated stone frontispiece with a bracketed hood, and the windows have bracketed stone caps and sills. A cast iron veranda survives on the east side, though the north and west porches are later replacements. The house looks much as it does in an 1875 county atlas, apart from the porches and missing blinds. It was the home of John R. Reynolds, born in Pennsylvania in 1831, who worked as a lumber merchant and plantation partner in Mississippi before settling in Dayton in 1867. There he became a capitalist with directorships in a bank and an insurance company, and he lived in the house until 1894.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a notable example of the Second Empire style in Dayton, little changed from its appearance in an 1875 atlas apart from the porches and lost blinds. It is also tied to John R. Reynolds, a wealthy local capitalist who lived there from 1867 until his death in 1894.
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 76001499, listed November 21, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 24 Klee St., Dayton |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | November 21, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001499 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1867-1894 |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied private residence; condition field not clearly marked. The north and west porches are described as deteriorating replacements, while the east veranda keeps its cast iron grillwork. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.75774, -84.14945 (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 76001499.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138611314
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.