James P. Hidley Cottage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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James P. Hidley Cottage
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Front and northern side
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1820 Oxford-Reily Rd., Reily, Ohio |
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | 1860 |
| Architect | James P. Hidley |
| Architectural style | Carpenter Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002951 |
| Added to NRHP | August 18, 1980 |
The James P. Hidley Cottage is a cool old house in western Butler County, Ohio, United States. It was built in 1860. This house is special because it's one of the few homes in the area built in the unique Carpenter Gothic style. It's even listed as a historic site!
The House's History
The land where the cottage stands was first owned by Samuel Dick. He was a pioneer in Butler County and got the land in 1801. Later, his son David built a gristmill (for grinding grain) and a sawmill (for cutting wood) there in 1810.
Over time, the land changed hands many times. Eventually, James P. Hidley bought parts of the property. He had the house built in 1860. He bought the rest of the land, including the mill, eight years later. The old mill was taken down in 1940.
What Makes It Special: Architecture
The Hidley Cottage is a great example of the Carpenter Gothic style. This style uses wood to create fancy, decorative details, much like stone Gothic churches.
The house has walls made of weatherboard. These are long, thin wooden boards that overlap to protect the house from the weather. It sits on a strong stone foundation.
Look closely at the house, and you'll see many cool details. The walls are made with a special type of wood siding called board and batten. The roof has a pointed shape called a gable. Both the roof and the front porch have beautifully decorated wooden edges called bargeboards. These are often carved or cut into fancy patterns.
The house has doors and windows on both the front and sides. There's also a single window in the top half-story. A chimney sits right in the middle of the roof.
A Historic Landmark
In 1980, the Hidley Cottage was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important historic places in the United States. Being on this list means the place is special and worth protecting.
More than eighty places in Butler County, Ohio, are now on this list. The Hidley Cottage earned its spot because of its unique architecture. Very few real Carpenter Gothic houses built in Butler County have survived until today.
