Buchwalter House-Applethorpe Farm
Why it's listed
Set on a small rise well back from the road near Hallsville, this two-story, L-shaped brick farmhouse was built around 1840 by John Buchwalter, Jr. It reflects the Greek Revival style as adapted to rural Ohio. The symmetrical five-bay front is laid in Flemish bond brick, with sandstone lintels, six-over-six windows and a central portico on square columns. A paneled door with sidelights and a transom completes the entrance. Corbeled eaves and gable returns add detail. The Buchwalter family were early settlers in Ross County. John Buchwalter Sr. helped establish Hallsville, and his son helped found the town's first church, the Evangelical Church, on family land in 1844. The farmstead served as a center of community life, and the name Applethorpe recalls the county's first apple orchard planted here. A fire in late 1981 badly damaged the house. It was rebuilt using original materials, historic photographs and family letters, with a large rear addition removed and a new porch added.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a good example of the rural adaptation of Greek Revival architecture, with a symmetrical five-bay facade, a classical portico and a detailed frontispiece. It is also significant for its association with the Buchwalter family, early settlers in Ross County who helped found Hallsville and its first church. The farm is also known as Applethorpe because the first apple orchard in Ross County was planted there.
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 83002053, listed May 26, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 292 Whissler Rd., Hallsville |
|---|---|
| County | Ross County |
| Listed | May 26, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83002053 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1840 |
| Architect / builder | John Buchwalter, Jr. |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Rebuilt after a late 1981 fire using surviving original materials; in excellent condition and used as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 39.45287, -82.82051 (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 83002053.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4781372
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.