Steindam House
Also known as: Frasher House
Why it's listed
This two-story, three-bay brick house at 725 Court Street in Portsmouth's Boneyfiddle area dates to about 1873 and is built in the Italianate style. It has a low-pitched hip roof, a bracketed cornice with a wide frieze, carved stone hoodmolds and sills with brackets, and original two-over-two windows. The entry is recessed in the first bay and has a single-light door with a transom. The plan is roughly rectangular with two shallow projections, and a one-story frame section was added at the rear. A newer garage is a non-contributing building on the lot. The house was listed for its integrity as an example of Italianate residential design in the city. From 1873 to 1902 it was occupied by William Steindam, a boot and shoe manufacturer and dealer, whose career reflects Portsmouth's major shoe industry. In 1910 it was sold to Charles F. Losh, a railroad engineer, who lived there until 1919.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant under criterion C as a well-preserved example of Italianate residential architecture in Portsmouth. It retains defining features such as a bracketed cornice, a low-pitched roof, original windows and overall verticality. It is also tied to William Steindam, a boot and shoe manufacturer, reflecting Portsmouth's shoe industry.
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 87002104, listed December 8, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 725 Court St., Portsmouth |
|---|---|
| County | Scioto County |
| Listed | December 8, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87002104 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1873 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition and in residential use; a one-story frame addition has been built at the rear and a newer three-car garage stands behind. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.73631, -83.00085 (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 87002104.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138672441
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.