Fridley-Oman Farm
Also known as: Slate Run Living Historical Farm
Why it's listed
Set within Slate Run Metropolitan Park near Marcy in Pickaway County, Ohio, this farmstead consists of a farmhouse built in 1856 for Isaac Fridley and a barn built in 1881 for Samuel Oman. The one-and-one-half-story house is a Gothic Revival design with bevel siding, a standing seam metal roof and walnut woodwork, including floors, staircase, cupboards and mantel. Early twentieth century owners added a kitchen and screened porch, and later changes brought heating, plumbing and electricity. The two-and-one-half-story barn was built for a large dairy operation. It has vertical plank siding, a slate roof with a pattern, and a pegged timber frame with mortised joints, which the nomination calls its most outstanding feature. The barn was remodeled in the 1930s or 1940s, when its driveway orientation changed. The property was listed as an example of nineteenth century farm architecture and for its value in interpreting agricultural life of the 1880s, with plans for working farm demonstrations and school programs.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as a classic example of 1850s Gothic Revival farm architecture in the Midwest and one of the best Gothic Revival frame homes in the area. The barn is significant for its traditional wood frame construction and its mortised and pegged timber framing, the work of master barn builders. Together they are also valued for interpreting the social and technological history of late nineteenth century farm life.
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 75001517, listed December 6, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W of Marcy in Slate Run Metropolitan Park, Marcy |
|---|---|
| County | Pickaway County |
| Listed | December 6, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001517 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival (house); wood frame barn |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent and altered. The park district planned restoration and use as a living historical farm with public and educational programs. Present use is given as agriculture, museum and park. |
| Acreage | 28 |
| Coordinates | 39.75367, -82.84831 (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 75001517.
- 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.