Stone, Capt. Jonathan, House
Also known as: Barrett, Dr. Thomas and Janet, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1799, this two-story timber-frame house in Belpre, Ohio, is the oldest surviving building in the town, which was settled ten years earlier. Its frame uses hand-hewn timbers joined with wooden pegs and rests on a coursed sandstone foundation. The facade has five bays, twelve-over-twelve windows with louvered shutters, and a paneled door with a transom and pilasters. In June 1825 fifty yoke of oxen moved the house 400 yards from the riverbank to avoid flooding, and it was relocated in a single day. Later additions and c. 1960 alterations changed parts of the structure, though most original mantels and woodwork remain inside. Captain Jonathan Stone, a Revolutionary War veteran, surveyor and Ohio Company landholder, built it and lived there. His son, Col. John Stone, later lived in the house and was a well-known abolitionist who helped many escaped slaves travel north.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a well-preserved example of the earliest substantial architecture in Ohio and the oldest existing building in Belpre. It is also tied to Captain Stone, an Ohio Company settler and surveyor, and his son Col. John Stone, a prominent abolitionist who helped escaped slaves.
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 78002209, listed February 7, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 612 Blennerhassett Ave., Belpre |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | February 7, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002209 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1799 |
| Architect / builder | Jonathan Stone |
| Architectural style | Federal period, described as comparable to better New England farm houses of the Revolutionary era |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as excellent condition, altered and moved; occupied as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 39.27107, -81.57680 (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 78002209.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5036697
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.