Millen–Schmidt House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Millen–Schmidt House
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Southern side of the house
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 184 N. King St., Xenia, Ohio |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1871 |
| Architectural style | Italian Villa |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001432 |
| Added to NRHP | November 7, 1976 |
The Millen–Schmidt House is a special old home in Xenia, Ohio, United States. It was built a long time ago, in the late 1800s. This house became famous as a historic site because it survived a huge tornado!
The Millen–Schmidt House Story
Eli Millen moved to Xenia in 1837. He came from South Carolina because he really didn't like slavery. First, he ran a store that sold fabrics and other goods. Later, he started a business that prepared and sold meat.
Building a Dream Home
Later in his life, Eli Millen traveled to Europe. There, he saw a very large and beautiful Italian mansion that he loved. When he came back to America, he found out that a similar house had been built in New York.
So, Eli Millen hired the same architect to design a house for him in Xenia. He wanted it to be just like the one he saw. The house was finished in 1871. It was built in a fancy part of Xenia called North King Street. In 1912, a rich merchant named Henry E. Schmidt bought the house. He sold fruits and vegetables.
A Special Design
The Millen–Schmidt House is built from brick and sits on a strong stone foundation. It is designed in a style called Italianate, which means it looks like an Italian villa. It also has parts made of sandstone.
The house is shaped like the letter "T" when you look at it from above. It has two main stories (floors). There is also a tall, rectangular tower that is three stories high. Two parts of the house have gable-roofs (pointy roofs) and are built in a style called Second Empire.
You enter the house through a stone porch. This porch is designed in a style called Romanesque Revival. The inside of the house was very fancy. It took two whole years to finish all the detailed work inside!
Surviving the Storm
On April 3, 1974, a very powerful tornado hit Xenia. It was one of the worst tornadoes ever recorded. Much of the northern part of Xenia was destroyed. But the Millen–Schmidt House survived!
Two years later, in 1976, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important buildings in the United States. It was added because of its special and important architecture. Eli Millen had wanted "a house that people will notice," and it was still true over 100 years later.
Another house on North King Street also survived the tornado. It is called the Samuel N. Patterson House. It is two blocks north of the Millen–Schmidt House. It was also added to the National Register in 1976.
