Passavant House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1809 of brick on a sandstone foundation, the Passavant House in Zelienople was a wedding gift from Frederick William Detmar Basse, the German-born founder of the town, to his daughter Zelie and her husband Philippe Passavant. The two-story house is three bays wide and two deep. Its centrally placed doorway is recessed between reeded pilasters and carries a full pediment, with paneled doors and a sunburst transom in the manner of Georgian Philadelphia. A brick stringcourse is the only exterior decoration. A two-story frame addition of about 1820 doubled the floor area at the rear, and a bay window and Greek Revival porch were added in 1915. The interior retains most of its original woodwork, including flooring, paneling and mantels. It is regarded as the oldest house in Zelienople and is notable for its well-preserved doorway and interior.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is the oldest house in Zelienople and is well preserved, with a notable Philadelphia-style doorway. It was built by the town's founder, Frederick William Detmar Basse, as a wedding gift for his daughter Zelie and her husband Philippe Passavant. The house is also linked to Dr. William A. Passavant, Zelie's son, who founded hospitals, a theological school, a children's home and Thiel College.
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 77001133, listed April 11, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 243 S. Main St., Zelienople |
|---|---|
| County | Butler County |
| Listed | April 11, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77001133 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1809 |
| Architect / builder | Frederick William Detmar Basse (builder) |
| Architectural style | Federal, Greek Revival and classical revival elements, as described in the form |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The form describes the property's condition as excellent and states that the interior retains most of its original woodwork. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.79302, -80.13665 (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 77001133.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7142556
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.