McPherson, Maj. Gen. James B., House
Why it's listed
This two-story frame house at 300 East McPherson Highway in Clyde, Ohio, was built in 1831 on a stone foundation under head carpenter Solomon Gould. It has a five-bay front, a deeply recessed center doorway with a rectangular transom, and narrow weatherboard siding. Inside, a center hall with a large walnut staircase separates two front rooms, each with a fireplace, in a plan described as a primitive interpretation of a New England colonial house. A rear addition holds the kitchen, and the upstairs now has four bedrooms. The house matters because of James Birdseye McPherson, who grew up here. He graduated first in his West Point class in 1853, worked as an Army engineer, and rose quickly during the Civil War, serving on General Grant's staff and playing a vital part in the siege of Vicksburg. He was killed at Atlanta on July 22, 1864. The house was his only permanent home, and it has always been a residence.
Significance in brief: It is described as the most important surviving structure associated with Civil War general James B. McPherson, who was reared there and for whom it remained his only permanent home until his death. McPherson rose rapidly in the Union Army, served on Grant's staff and was killed at Atlanta in 1864.
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 74001619, listed October 18, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 300 E. McPherson Hwy., Clyde |
|---|---|
| County | Sandusky County |
| Listed | October 18, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001619 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (built 1831) |
| Architect / builder | Solomon Gould, head carpenter |
| Architectural style | Primitive interpretation of a two-story New England colonial house with a center hall |
| Areas of significance | Military |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and always used as a residence; a rear addition has been built, and the interior and exterior are otherwise little modified. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 41.30867, -82.97142 (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 74001619.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138667194
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.