Floraville Historic District
Why it's listed
Floraville is a park-like residential neighborhood of about 44 acres south of downtown Lebanon, Ohio, holding roughly 65 buildings from the 1820s through the 1920s. Its nickname comes from the abundant landscaping, and its best-known landmarks are five large mansions near Cincinnati Avenue, built in the 1830s and 1840s. Glendower, the earliest, was the first Lebanon house by builder Amos Bennett and served as a model for neighboring Greek Revival homes. The district also includes an Italian Villa, a large Gothic Revival house, Italianate and Second Empire residences, Colonial Revival and bungalow examples, and an 1897 concrete arch bridge reputed to be the oldest in the state. Many buildings were homes of prominent nineteenth-century lawyers, merchants and bankers, and Alfred Holbrook of National Normal University lived here. Wide setbacks, large side yards and mature trees give the area a consistent character, and most original materials and forms remain intact despite some later intrusions.
Significance in brief: The district is significant for its well-preserved high-style architecture, including Greek Revival, Italian Villa, Gothic Revival and Colonial Revival buildings. It also contains the former homes of many leading nineteenth-century Lebanon citizens. Its growth in several periods, from the 1830s mansions to early twentieth-century homes, is still visible.
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 84002102, listed October 10, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by Cincinnati and Orchard Aves., East and Keever Sts., Lebanon |
|---|---|
| County | Warren County |
| Listed | October 10, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002102 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architect / builder | Amos Bennett (builder of Glendower); Albert Harmon (local architect, 26 W. Orchard and 3 E. Orchard); most Greek Revival mansions not architect-designed |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Italian Villa, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Second Empire, Colonial Revival, bungalow and other styles |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The original materials, forms and settings of the residences are generally untouched; alterations include side additions and new porches, and there is very little aluminum siding. |
| Acreage | 44 |
| Coordinates | 39.42966, -84.20959 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 84002102.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q24061851
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.