Taylorsville Canal Inn
Why it's listed
Near Dayton in Wayne Township, this two-story brick building at 4240 Taylorsville Road is shaped like the letter H and faces the trace of the Miami and Erie Canal. Its Greek Revival details include a pedimented gable at each of the four ends, box cornices with friezes, six-over-six windows with stone lintels and sills, and a doorway with a cornice. Inside, the entrance hall has a dog-leg stair, and transoms and decorative moulding survive. Records suggest Samuel Koogler built it around 1834, as the canal extension north from Dayton was under construction. Tradition holds that it served as a canal inn, and its siting and layout support that view, though the use cannot be proved. Later changes include an enclosed porch and a veranda added about 1954 and a parlor mantel from about 1973. It was listed as a fine representation of a Greek Revival canal inn, with the former village of Taylorsville having faded away around it.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as an excellent example of a Greek Revival canal inn on the Miami and Erie Canal. Its orientation toward the canal and its physical layout make use as an inn almost certain, although that cannot be proved from the historical record. Its Greek Revival interior trim is described as excellently preserved.
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 77001078, listed November 16, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 4240 Taylorsville Rd., Dayton |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | November 16, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77001078 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | C. 1834 or 1845-1850 |
| Architect / builder | Samuel Koogler (deduced from the public record as the builder, c. 1834) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as a private residence, occupied. Later alterations include an enclosed side porch and a veranda (both c. 1954) and a modernized parlor mantel (c. 1973). The form says a minor restoration would return it to its 1836 appearance. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 39.86343, -84.16495 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 77001078.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.