Friendly Grove
Why it's listed
Friendly Grove is a brick farmhouse on State Route 220 east of Piketon, Ohio, built in 1824 by Robert Lucas and named for his wife, Friendly Ashley Summer. The two-story, hand-made brick house is L-shaped and Federal in style, typical of better farm homes built in early statehood by Virginia immigrants. Original sash windows, a hand-carved stone lintel bearing the family motto of virtue, liberty and independence, and interior features such as mantels, deep-set cupboards, random-width flooring and chair rails remain intact. A seamed metal roof was added later. Lucas, born in Virginia in 1781, served as a militia general, state legislator, chairman of the first national Democratic Convention, and two-term Ohio governor from 1832 to 1836, when he played a decisive role in the Toledo War. He later served as governor of Iowa Territory and kept the house until his death in 1853. The property is valued both as architecture and as the home of a prominent public figure.
Significance in brief: The house is a well-preserved example of first-generation Ohio architecture with Virginia influence, typical of farmhouses once common in the Virginia Military District of southern Ohio. It is also significant as the creation and residence of Robert Lucas, a nationally prominent Jacksonian Democrat, general, governor of Ohio and governor of the Iowa Territory.
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 70000513, listed January 26, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | OH 220, E of Piketon, Piketon |
|---|---|
| County | Pike County |
| Listed | January 26, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000513 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1824) |
| Architect / builder | Robert Lucas |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in fair condition, largely unaltered and on its original site; used as a private residence and occupied. |
| Coordinates | 39.06290, -82.97110 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 70000513.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138648631
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.