Johnston-Crossland House
Why it's listed
This three-story brick house on North Seventh Street in Zanesville was built in 1874 for Alexander Johnston, a dry goods merchant with a store on Main Street. It rests on a coursed rubble foundation and is topped by a mansard roof with round-arched dormers, a steeply hipped section at the southeast corner and a pair of metal finials. A molded cornice with consoles runs around the house. In 1903 it was sold to Dr. Jefferson Crossland, who converted it to a doctor's office and residence. Two additions, a buff brick veneer and brick porch posts date from that change. Crossland practiced in Zanesville for over fifty years, served on the State Board of Health and its presidency, and sat on the local school board. The house is significant as the only French Second Empire building left in the downtown residential-commercial area and one of two in the city, a survivor in a once-stately neighborhood largely lost to parking lots.
Significance in brief: It is nominated for architecture as the only French Second Empire style structure left in downtown Zanesville's residential-commercial area and one of only two in the city. It also has associational value through Dr. Jefferson Crossland, a leading physician who occupied it for thirty-five years. Seventh Street became a 'doctor's row' around the 1890s.
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 82003625, listed March 15, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | N. 7th St., Zanesville |
|---|---|
| County | Muskingum County |
| Listed | March 15, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003625 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | French Second Empire |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in excellent to good condition, used as a private residence; altered in 1903 with additions and a brick veneer. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Muskingum River Navigation Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.94330, -82.00415 (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 82003625.
- 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.