Vanmeter Stone House and Outbuildings
Why it's listed
Terraced boxwood and evergreen gardens surround a two-story sandstone house near Piketon, Ohio, built on land Isaac Vanmeter bought in 1801. His son John Inskeep Vanmeter, who later served in the United States Congress, began the house in 1823. It is rectangular, with a gable roof, a central chimney and an end chimney, and shuttered 12/12 windows with stone lintels and carved corner blocks. Behind it stand a brick overflow house, a stone smokehouse with a milkhouse below, and a clapboard schoolhouse, now linked by a one-story gallery. The overflow house, thought to be the oldest building, included a drover's room. The schoolhouse is believed to be the first school in the county, with a schoolmaster brought from Virginia to teach the Vanmeter children. The family raised crops and livestock, bought early Short Horn cattle, and practiced selective timber cutting. The property was listed as a fine example of southern Ohio stone architecture and as an early settler's farm.
Significance in brief: The property is described as a fine example of southern Ohio stone architecture and as the home of an early Ohio settler and farmer. The private school on the grounds is thought to be the first in the county. The farm was also noted for early Short Horn cattle and early selective timber cutting.
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 75001519, listed March 31, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | S of Piketon at jct. of U.S. 23 and OH 124, Piketon |
|---|---|
| County | Pike County |
| Listed | March 31, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001519 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent; used as a private residence, with preservation work in progress. The land is still owned by the Vanmeter family. |
| Acreage | 8 |
| Coordinates | 39.04415, -83.02962 (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 75001519.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7915078
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.