Acton House
Why it's listed
Acton House, at 115 West Main Street in Eaton, is among the oldest buildings in the city and in Preble County. John Acton, who arrived from Virginia in 1816, built the original three-bay, two-story Federal brick house in 1817, along with a small frame hattery. His son John P. Acton enlarged it around 1840 with a matching brick addition that balanced the facade and brought a Greek Revival entrance with side lights and transom. A rear addition followed in the 1870s, an Italianate frame addition in the 1880s, and a porch and rear second-floor addition around 1910. Inside, a curved stairway and original woodwork remain. The Actons worked as hatters, millers, lumber dealers and grocers. John P. Acton ran a steam sawmill, helped found the Preble County Bank in 1872, and supported railroad expansion. The house was listed for this family association and as an example of changing 19th century building styles in Eaton.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues significance under Criterion B for association with the Acton family, early Eaton residents, especially John P. Acton, who contributed to the city's commercial development as a hatter, grocer, lumber dealer and banker. It also cites Criterion C, saying the house shows the progression of 19th century residential architecture in Eaton from Federal to Greek Revival and later Italianate additions.
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 85001944, listed September 5, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 115 W. Main St., Eaton |
|---|---|
| County | Preble County |
| Listed | September 5, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001944 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federal, with Greek Revival remodeling and Italianate frame addition |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and altered, with additions; photographs show it was renovated in 1984. Listed as occupied, with commercial use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.74383, -84.63699 (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 85001944.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4677674
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.