Deardoff, Daniel L., House
Why it's listed
Built around 1883, this three-story brick farmhouse on Union Road in southern Franklin Township, Warren County, Ohio, applies the Second Empire style to a working farm. Its L-plan form has a patterned slate mansard roof, dormer windows, a slightly projecting central pavilion, a truncated front gable with a scroll finial, and bracketed trim. A small two-story rear wing uses bricks from an earlier Deardoff farmhouse. Daniel L. Deardoff bought the farm from his father in 1869; the family had held the land since 1805. The house's size and style set it apart from more modest neighboring farmhouses, suggesting Deardoff's success as a farmer in a township that prospered from the canal, turnpike and railroads. It is the only Second Empire building in the southern half of the township. Connected barns and other outbuildings survive nearby, and fields still surround the house, giving it unusual integrity in an area that has seen suburban development.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a modest but notable farmhouse version of the Second Empire style and one of the grandest farmhouses in southern Franklin Township. It is the only Second Empire example in the southern half of the township. Its largely unaltered agricultural setting is also notable, since much nearby farmland has become suburban development.
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 84003810, listed May 31, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 4374 Union Rd., Franklin |
|---|---|
| County | Warren County |
| Listed | May 31, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003810 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; described as in good condition, with a small one-story addition from about 1975 and bathroom and kitchen alterations. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 39.50740, -84.31589 (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 84003810.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.