Irvine, Guy C., House
Also known as: The Locusts; The Walker House; The Kopf House
Why it's listed
A two-story brick house about one and a half miles south of Russell in Warren County, begun in 1831 and finished in 1835 by lumberman Guy C. Irvine and his brother-in-law Rufus Weatherby. Weatherby died in 1833, and Irvine completed the work alone. Built as a two-family house with a common center hall and a kitchen at each end, it has a symmetrical five-bay front, flanking one-story wings, double chimneys in the gable ends, and six-over-six windows with shutters. Its pedimented porch rests on columns and pilasters, and its 18-inch walls taper to 12 inches at the top. It is described as Greek Revival. Irvine built a fortune on timber and sawmills along the Allegheny River and was known as the Napoleon of the lumber business. The grounds retain locust trees planted when the house was built. Its significance rests on its architecture and its link to Irvine's lumber career.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its architecture, described as Greek Revival by Charles M. Stotz, and for its association with Guy C. Irvine, a lumberman who owned more timber and sawmills than any other individual along the Allegheny River. The house was built as a two-family residence and is noted for its chimneys and the locust trees planted when it was built.
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 78002479, listed September 13, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1.5 mi. S of Russell on U.S. 62, Russell |
|---|---|
| County | Warren County |
| Listed | September 13, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002479 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1831-1835 |
| Architect / builder | Guy C. Irvine; Rufus Weatherby |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored circa 1940-1941; occupied as a year-round home since 1962. |
| Acreage | 13 |
| Coordinates | 41.91994, -79.15090 (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 78002479.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5622140
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.