Renick House, Paint Hill
Also known as: Presbyterian Manse
Why it's listed
Built on Paint Hill in Chillicothe and completed in 1804, this L-shaped, Virginia-style house is made of Waverly sandstone quarried nearby. Architect Presley Morris designed it for George Renick, a settler from Hardy County, Virginia. The rear L was finished first and held four rooms. The two-story front block has three bays, a central doorway, shuttered double-hung windows and walls 23 inches thick. About 1904 a one-story wing was added, and the original separate stone kitchen was later joined to the house by a frame addition. Renick is remembered for a 1804 drive of 96 fat cattle from the Scioto Valley to Baltimore, the first extended overland cattle drive in the United States, which opened a market for local farmers. He later held stock in a company importing English cattle. The house, restored and well kept, passed to a Presbyterian congregation in 1956 and remains a monument to him.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to George Renick, who in 1804 drove 96 head of fat cattle from the Scioto Valley to Baltimore, the first extended overland cattle drive in the United States. The drive is credited with saving the valley's farm economy. The house also survives as an example of the architecture of its period in Chillicothe.
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 73001528, listed May 9, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 17 Mead Dr., Chillicothe |
|---|---|
| County | Ross County |
| Listed | May 9, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001528 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1804) |
| Architect / builder | Presley Morris, architect |
| Architectural style | Virginia-style |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as excellent condition, well maintained and carefully landscaped; restored by a prior owner and transferred to the First Presbyterian Society in 1956. The form checks both occupied and private residence use. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 39.32341, -82.99058 (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 73001528.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7313241
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.