Hardesty, Ralph, Stone House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1836 on Main Street in Norwich, Ohio, this two-story sandstone house was erected for Ralph Hardesty, who bought the lot in 1828 for $40. Tax records valued the "stone and brick house" at $500. The original block measures 40 by 22 feet and has a slate gable roof, a three-bay facade and a central entrance. The stone is native sandstone, dressed with many tool marks still visible. It is an I-house, a form one room deep, two rooms across and two stories high, derived from English folk houses. Most I-houses in the area were frame or brick, and most had five bays, so a three-bay stone example is unusual. It is the first and only stone house in Norwich and the only one in Union Township. Inside, the central hall keeps an open-string stair, original molded woodwork and fireplaces in each of the four original rooms. Greenhouse and storage additions were added at the rear and west side.
Significance in brief: It is described as the first and only stone house in the village of Norwich and the only stone house in Union Township. It is a stone example of the I-house folk form, which was usually built of frame or brick. Its three-bay facade also departs from the usual five-bay I-house.
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 80003184, listed March 11, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Main St., Norwich |
|---|---|
| County | Muskingum County |
| Listed | March 11, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003184 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1836 |
| Architectural style | I-house (folk architecture) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied and in excellent condition, used as a private residence and commercial space; rear and west additions serve as greenhouse and plant storage. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Muskingum River Navigation Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.98560, -81.78973 (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 80003184.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7287597
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.