Colonel Joseph Barker House facts for kids
The Colonel Joseph Barker House is a very old and special house in Washington County, Ohio, United States. It's located north of Marietta, in a small community called Devola. This house was built a long time ago, in the early 1800s, and it still looks much like it did back then! Because it's so well-preserved and important to history, it's been named a historic site.
Quick facts for kids |
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Col. Joseph Barker 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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| Nearest city | Marietta, Ohio |
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| Area | 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) |
| Built | 1811 |
| Architect | Col. Joseph Barker |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002210 |
| Added to NRHP | June 23, 1978 |
Contents
Joseph Barker's Story
Joseph Barker was born in Newmarket, New Hampshire in 1765. He moved his family to Ohio in 1789. Joseph worked as a carpenter in Marietta. He also served in the local army, called the militia, during the Northwest Indian War.
In 1795, he settled along the Muskingum River, about 7 miles (11 km) from Marietta. Sadly, his property and all his supplies were destroyed by fire that winter. But Joseph and his family didn't give up! They moved back north and were among the first families to settle in an area called Wiseman's Bottom, also along the river.
Barker's Role in the Community
Within a few years, Joseph Barker became a very important person in the community.
- He was promoted to a high rank, colonel, in the militia during the war.
- In 1799, he became a justice of the peace. This meant he helped keep order and solve local problems.
- From 1830 to 1842, he served as a judge for Washington County's common pleas court.
Joseph Barker was also a very skilled craftsman. He was not only a carpenter but also a talented architect and shipbuilder. He built many ships right on his farm. Some of these ships were even used for the Burr expedition, a famous event in early American history.
His Daughter, Frances Dana Barker Gage
Joseph Barker's daughter, Frances Dana Barker Gage, became a famous writer. She was also a leading American reformer, meaning she worked to make society better. She was a strong supporter of women's rights and worked to end slavery. Joseph Barker himself wrote a book called Recollections. This book shares important details about the early history of the first American settlement in the Northwest Territory.
The House's Design
The Barker house is a rectangular building with two stories. It was finished in 1811. The front of the house has three sections, called bays. The main entrance is in the middle. It has a large, rounded window above the door, called a fanlight. There are also tall windows on either side of the doorway, known as sidelights.
All three windows on the second floor of the front of the house are set inside brick arches. The house is built of brick and sits on a strong foundation made of sandstone. Its roof is covered with slate.
Why the House is Special
Joseph Barker was one of Ohio's first master builders. This means he was in charge of building many important structures in Marietta and nearby areas. The Barker House was the first building he completed himself. This makes it very important in the history of architecture in the Marietta region.
What makes the house even more special is how rare it is and how well it has been kept. Very few changes have been made to the house in over 200 years. Also, almost none of the other buildings designed by Barker are still standing today.
Historic Recognition
In 1978, the Colonel Joseph Barker House was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are important for their history or architecture. The house earned this honor because of its special architecture and its connection to Joseph Barker himself.
It is one of thirty-five places in Washington County that are on this important list. Another house on the list is the home of Joseph Barker's son, Joseph, Jr.. His house is located along State Route 7 above Marietta.
