Mason House
Why it's listed
Built in 1802, this story-and-a-half frame house at Coal Run in Washington County, Ohio, is notable for how little it has changed. Clapboard covers the walls, and the foundation is cut sandstone with floor joists made of whole logs, some still bearing bark. The exterior is plain, with decoration limited to beveled and grooved corner boards. Inside, the original hardwood floors, paneled doors, built-in storage units and an enclosed winding staircase all survive, and no bathrooms or central heating have forced changes to the room plan. The house follows the saltbox folk type associated with New England, brought west by early settlers of southeastern Ohio. Unlike many Ohio houses that only look like saltboxes because of a later rear shed addition, the foundation and joists show this one was built as a single unit. It appears on the county tax records in 1802. Its first owners, and probably its builders, were Daniel Davis and Joseph Thompson, and Davis had served in the Fort Frye garrison at Waterford.
Significance in brief: It is described as an unusually intact, unaltered example of very early Ohio settlement architecture, built a year before statehood. It follows the saltbox folk house type brought west by New England settlers, but was built as a single unit rather than with a later rear addition. Its unadorned exterior and uncompromised original interior woodwork make it a rare architectural survival.
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 79001978, listed November 29, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | OH 393, Coal Run |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | November 29, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001978 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1802 |
| Architect / builder | Daniel Davis and Joseph Thompson (first owners and probably builders) |
| Architectural style | Saltbox folk house type; early settlement architecture |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition marked good; the house has seen very little change since 1802, with original woodwork, floors and doors intact. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Within district | Muskingum River Navigation Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.56384, -81.58464 (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 79001978.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6783588
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.