Meyer House
Also known as: Thatcher Law Office
Why it's listed
Built around 1868 at 309 Washington Street in Portsmouth, Ohio, this two-story brick house is an ornate example of Italianate residential architecture. It appears to have been built for S.J. Meyer, a dealer in hardware, cutlery, iron, nails, glass and sash on Market Street, who bought the lot in 1867 and probably built the new house the following year. The Meyer family lived here until 1886. The three-bay facade has a side-hall entry, carved stone lintels and sills, a bracketed cornice, and hoodmolds with floral keystones. Windows are round-arched on the first floor and segmental-arched above. A massive stone surround frames the round-arched main door, and a south side entrance has a rounded porch canopy. The house was listed for its architecture, as one of the more elaborate Italianate buildings on the west side of the city. Now used as offices, it keeps its original staircase, doors and moldings.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an excellent, intact example of the Italianate style as it appeared in mid-to-late 19th century Portsmouth. It is noted as one of the more elaborate examples of the style on the city's west side. Its decorative hoodmolds, bracketed cornice and elaborate entry treatment define its character.
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 87002088, listed March 10, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 309 Washington St., Portsmouth |
|---|---|
| County | Scioto County |
| Listed | March 10, 1988 |
| Reference number | 87002088 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Converted to office use; exterior and interior condition both described as good. The interior retains its original staircase, doors and moldings. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.73301, -82.99881 (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 87002088.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138672380
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.