John Reaves House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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John Reaves House
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Front of the house
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 Location in Ohio
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| Location | Public Sq., Freeport, Ohio |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1820 |
| NRHP reference No. | 77001068 |
| Added to NRHP | July 15, 1977 |
The John Reaves House is a historic building in Freeport, Ohio, United States. It's special because it was built by one of the first people to settle in the area. Later, it became the home of an important person named John Reaves. Over the years, this old house has been used for many different things, from a home to a bank, a village hall, and now a library! It's recognized as a historic site because of its long and interesting past.
Contents
A House with a Long Story
Early Beginnings
The story of the John Reaves House begins around 1804. A man named Daniel Easley moved from Virginia and settled in the area that would become Freeport. He built this house sometime before 1820. We don't know the exact year, but it was definitely standing by 1820.
Later in his life, Daniel Easley moved even farther west. He ended up starting a new city called Freeport, Illinois. Before he left Ohio, he sold his house to the family of John Reaves.
The Reaves Family and the Civil War
John Reaves became a very important person in Freeport's early history. He was one of the first teachers in Harrison County, Ohio. People in the village remembered him as the first person from Harrison County to die in the American Civil War. He was also the very first man in Freeport to join the army after the attack on Fort Sumter.
Changes Over Time
The Reaves house is a small building made of brick. It has a main entrance in the front and another door on the side. The building is one and a half stories tall. It sits on a strong stone foundation. The walls go up to pointed roofs called gables, which have chimneys on top.
After John Reaves passed away, the house was no longer used as a home. It was turned into a business building. By 1888, it had become Freeport's very first bank!
In later years, the house was given to the village leaders. They used it as the village hall, which is like a town office. It also served as a museum for a while. Today, the John Reaves House is a library. It's known as the Clark Memorial branch of the Puskarich Public Library, which is based in Cadiz, Ohio.
A Recognized Historic Place
In the middle of 1977, the John Reaves 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 was added because of its unique and important architecture. It is the oldest building still standing in Freeport. It has not changed much since it was first built, which makes it a great example of early architecture in the area.
