Alkire House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Alkire House
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Front of the house
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 259 N. State St., Westerville, Ohio |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1849 |
| Architect | Garrit Sharp |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002068 |
| Added to NRHP | March 30, 1978 |
The Alkire House is a historic home in Westerville, Ohio, a town near Columbus, Ohio. It was built in the mid-1800s. This house was not just a family home; it was also a secret safe place for people escaping slavery. Today, it is still a very important historic site.
History of the Alkire House
Garrit Sharp was one of the first people to settle in Westerville. He was a very important member of the Methodist Church there. Mr. Sharp even gave land to build the first Methodist church in the city. He also helped start a school called the Blendon Young Men's Seminary, which later became Otterbein University.
Like many other Methodists, Garrit Sharp was a big part of the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped people escape slavery. He helped guide people seeking freedom from the Columbus area to a Quaker community in Morrow County, Ohio, further north.
Garrit Sharp built the Alkire House in 1849. He used plans from a special builder's book. He lived here with his family for many years. Some of his sons also lived nearby on State Street or Africa Road. Just like their father, his sons helped people escape slavery. Sometimes, people seeking freedom would be hidden in any of these family homes.
What the Alkire House Looks Like
The Alkire House is made of brick and has an asphalt roof. It also has parts made of wood and stone. There is a chimney at each end of the main house. A large one-story addition is attached to the back.
The front of the house has five sections with windows. A main door is in the middle. This door has a wooden porch with a special railing under the roof. Small windows called sidelights are on either side of the doorway. The house is built with strong brick and stone. The bottom part of the house, called the foundation, uses both brick and stone. The tops of the windows and doorways have stone pieces called lintels.
Why the Alkire House is Preserved
In 1978, the Alkire House was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a very important historical site. It was chosen because of its special architecture and its history.
The Alkire House is one of 14 places in Westerville listed on the National Register. Other important places include buildings at Otterbein University. Also listed is the Stephen Sharp House, which belonged to Garrit's son Stephen. That house on Africa Road was also used to help people escape slavery.
