Judge Joseph Barker House facts for kids
The Judge Joseph Barker House is an old and important house in Washington County, Ohio, United States. It's located near Newport. This brick house was built a long time ago, in 1832. It sits on a hill overlooking the Ohio River. Today, it's not a home anymore but an office for the Army Corps of Engineers.
Quick facts for kids |
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Judge Joseph Barker Jr. 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 | State Route 7 |
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| Nearest city | Newport, Ohio |
| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1832 |
| Architect | Col. Joseph Barker |
| NRHP reference No. | 79001979 |
| Added to NRHP | July 26, 1979 |
The Historic Judge Joseph Barker House
This two-story house was built in 1832. It is made of brick with a metal roof. The base of the house is made of sandstone. It has a classic design with a main entrance in the middle. The entrance features a special window above it, called a fanlight, and windows on the sides, called sidelights.
Who Was Judge Joseph Barker Jr.?
The house was built for Joseph Barker Jr.. His parents moved to Marietta in 1789. Joseph Jr.'s father, also named Joseph, was a very skilled builder. He built many houses and even ships. The family lived in Marietta for a while during the Northwest Indian War. They also stayed there one winter after their farm burned down.
Joseph Barker Jr. followed in his father's footsteps. He became a judge on the Washington County Court of Common Pleas. This is a type of court that handles many different legal cases. He served as a judge in the mid-1800s until he passed away. Before that, he was part of the Ohio General Assembly in the early 1830s. The General Assembly is the state's law-making body.
A Special House
Judge Barker's home was actually built by his father, Colonel Joseph Barker. Colonel Barker was a leader in the Ohio militia, which was like a local army. He built many important houses in Washington County. However, very few of his buildings are still standing today. This makes Judge Barker's house very special and important for understanding the history of the area.
In 1979, the Judge 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 unique design and because it was built by Colonel Barker. It is one of 35 places in Washington County on this list. Another house on the list is the home of Judge Barker's father, the Colonel Joseph Barker House.
Today, the Judge Joseph Barker House is no longer a family home. By the late 1970s, it had become a government office. It is now owned by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, which is a part of the U.S. Army that works on engineering projects like building dams and managing waterways.
