Smith-Davis House
Also known as: Lucas,Evelyn,House; state survey no.:WAR-743-6
Why it's listed
This brick house at 206 West Silver Street in Lebanon, Ohio, dates to about 1840 and appears to have been built in the early 1840s by William and Jane Smith. It rises two and a half stories on a stone foundation under a gable roof of standing seam metal. The tallest front section has stepped parapet walls, an off-center entrance with a cut limestone porch and steps, radiating voussoirs over the front windows, and a plain wood frieze with wooden box gutters. Rear sections include a two-story part and a one-story addition with a cement block foundation. Ownership passed from the Smiths to James Smith in 1846, then to his son Joseph in 1892, and Frank P. Davis, a laborer, bought it in 1903 after likely renting it earlier. The house was recognized as a relatively unaltered Federal style example in Lebanon. It stands about two blocks from the central business district in a largely residential area.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a relatively unaltered example of the Federal style in Lebanon. It has radiating voussoir lintels, a simple frieze board and stepped parapet walls typical of the style. Apart from one early twentieth-century addition and an aluminum porch awning, its shape and details remain largely intact.
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 85000245, listed February 6, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 206 W. Silver St., Lebanon |
|---|---|
| County | Warren County |
| Listed | February 6, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85000245 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as a residence in fair exterior condition; it has one early twentieth-century addition and an aluminum porch awning. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 39.43592, -84.21106 (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 85000245.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138762818
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.