Charles Butler House (Franklin, Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Charles Butler House
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Streetside view
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 13 E. Jackson St., Franklin, Ohio |
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| Area | 2.8 acres (1.1 ha) |
| Built | 1860 |
| Architectural style | Octagon Mode |
| NRHP reference No. | 82003664 |
| Added to NRHP | April 29, 1982 |
The Charles Butler House is a unique historic home located in Franklin, Ohio, United States. Built in the mid-1800s, it was once owned by an important person in the city. This house is recognized as a historic site because of its very unusual eight-sided design.
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Discover the Charles Butler House
The Charles Butler House stands out because it is an octagon house. This means it has eight sides, unlike most homes that have four. This style was very popular for a short time in the 1800s. People thought octagon houses were more efficient and let in more sunlight.
Who Lived Here?
The city of Franklin was greatly shaped by the Schenck family in its early days. John N. Schenck, a member of this family, had the Charles Butler House built in 1860. At that time, the idea of the octagon house was very popular. Building such a unique home showed that Schenck was quite wealthy.
Instead of living in the house himself, John N. Schenck gave it to his daughter and her husband, Charles Butler. Charles Butler was a very important person in Franklin. He played a big role in the city's government and businesses.
Special Features of the House
The Butler House is made of brick and has a metal roof. It has many interesting details that make it special. For example, it has pairs of windows, each with four panes of glass. There is also a wooden cornice (a decorative molding at the top of a wall) with brackets (supports). The house also features special molding around the lintels (the horizontal supports above windows).
Because the house sits on a small hill, anyone inside can enjoy amazing views. You can see a wide panorama of the city of Franklin. You can also see the beautiful Great Miami River flowing nearby.
A Protected Historic Site
In 1982, the Charles Butler House was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of buildings, sites, and objects that are important in American history. The house qualified for this list because of its unique eight-sided architecture.
It is one of only four places in Franklin listed on the National Register. The other sites include the ancient Hill-Kinder Mound, the historic Mackinaw Historic District, and the Old Log Post Office. The Charles Butler House is especially rare because it is one of only two octagon houses in Franklin. There is only one other known octagon house in all of southwestern Ohio. However, the Goldsmith Coffeen House in Lebanon is built with six sides, making it a hexagon.
