Matthias Gast House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Matthias Gast House and General Store
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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 119, Maria Stein, Ohio |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1852 |
| Architect | Matthias Gast |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002139 |
| Added to NRHP | December 29, 1978 |
The Matthias Gast House is a special old building in Maria Stein, Ohio, United States. It was built in the mid-1800s. This house was once the home of Matthias Gast, an important person in the early history of Mercer County, Ohio. Because of its history, it is now a recognized historic site.
Who Was Matthias Gast?
Matthias Gast was born in France in 1813. He moved to the United States in 1828. He was one of the first people to settle in Marion Township, Mercer County, Ohio.
In 1833, Matthias Gast opened the first shoe store in his community. Soon, he expanded his business to other nearby towns. As time went on, Gast became well-known throughout Marion County. He even served as one of the county's first county commissioners. A county commissioner is a local leader who helps manage the county government.
What Does the House Look Like?
The Gast House is a rectangular building. It has five sections, called "bays," across the front. It has two bays on each side. The bottom part of the house, called the foundation, is made of brick. The walls, which are two stories high, are also made of brick.
Matthias Gast built two other structures near his house. One was a store made of wood, and the other was a wooden summer kitchen. Before the separate store was built, he ran a store and a small hotel right out of his house. Later, younger members of the Gast family added a large section to the back of the house. This was done to make room for more family members. One later owner, Martha Gast, used the old store building to keep hardware supplies.
Why Is the House Important?
In 1978, the Gast property was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of places in the United States that are important to history. The house was listed for three main reasons:
- It was the home of Matthias Gast, a very important person in the local community.
- It played a big part in the history of the area.
- It is a good example of old architecture that has been well-preserved.
The Matthias Gast House is one of three important groups of buildings in Maria Stein that are on this historic list. The others are the Maria Stein Convent and St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.
