King, Ahimaaz, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1885, this two-story brick house at the head of King Avenue in Kings Mills was the first home constructed in a village the King Powder Company created for its workers. Ahimaaz King's house combines the formal symmetry of the Italianate style with the asymmetry of Queen Anne design. It has limestone trim, a low hipped roof with bracketed eaves, a widow's walk, and a deep fieldstone foundation. Inside, original features include Lincrusta-Walton wainscoting, a carved walnut newel post, stained glass with Japanese-influenced Aesthetic Movement designs, and decorative fireplace mantels. The property covers more than 65 acres on high ground above the Little Miami River. A carriage house, an 1890s shed, a cast-iron fountain, a water pump and other landscape features survive near the house. The former powder company works on the hillside were demolished after operations ended. The current function is listed as vacant. The house is significant as a well-preserved example of its period and as a key remnant of the company town's origins.
Significance in brief: The house mixes formal Italianate symmetry with Queen Anne asymmetry and retains many original interior features. It was the first home built in the company town of Kings Mills and is tied to the King Powder Company, which founded the village. The form marks it as significant at the state level.
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 08001199, listed December 19, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1720 E. King Ave., Kings Mills |
|---|---|
| County | Warren County |
| Listed | December 19, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08001199 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate; Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Industry |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as vacant. Some changes have been made, including a replaced main roof in the 1990s and an enclosed solarium added after 1919. |
| Acreage | 65.3 |
| Coordinates | 39.35852, -84.24695 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 08001199.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138754396
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.