Benedict, Reuben, House
Also known as: Oliver, William, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1828 for Reuben Benedict, this brick farmhouse sits beside Alum Creek in Peru Township, Morrow County, Ohio. Benedict came from New York in 1812 with a group of settlers who founded the Quaker community known as Alum Creek. Local histories described his brick house as the first of its kind in the township. The two-story main block has a frame wing, standing seam metal roof, end chimneys and a four-bay front. Inside, a modified Continental plan holds a Federal mantel with reeded moldings, carved tulip and sunburst motifs, plus corner fireplaces and original chair rails. The house is recognized for its link to the Underground Railroad. Alum Creek lay on one of two principal routes through north-central Ohio, and the house appears in accounts and local histories as a station. It is also valued as a rare early example of its plan and style in the county. Later changes include stucco, replacement openings and a garage, but the house keeps much of its original character.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant under Criterion A for its association with the Underground Railroad in northern Ohio, in the Quaker settlement of Alum Creek. It is also significant under Criterion C as a locally rare, early Ohio example of a modified Continental plan house in the Federal vernacular style. It retains a relatively high degree of architectural integrity despite later alterations.
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 00000419, listed May 8, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1463 Cty. Rd. 24, Marengo |
|---|---|
| County | Morrow County |
| Listed | May 8, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00000419 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1828-1865 |
| Architectural style | Early Republic/Federal (Federal vernacular, modified Continental plan) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single-family dwelling. Altered after the period of significance, including stucco on the first floor, replacement windows and doors, and a post-1950 garage. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 40.40816, -82.86334 (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 00000419.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138638785
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.