Monitor House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Monitor 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 | 375 W. Main St., St. Paris, Ohio |
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| Area | 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) |
| Built | 1860 |
| Architectural style | Monitor Style |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001408 |
| Added to NRHP | May 2, 1974 |
The Monitor House is a historic building in St. Paris, Ohio, United States. It's famous for its unique design. This house is mostly one story tall, but it has a special raised section in the middle. This central part is a story and a half high, making the house look very distinctive.
What Makes the Monitor House Special?
The Monitor House is located on West Main Street. It is a square building made of brick. The house sits on a strong stone foundation. Its roof is covered with asphalt.
A Look at Its Design
Even though the house is mostly one story, it has a unique central part. This central section is called a "clerestory." It rises higher than the rest of the roof. This design gives the house its special "monitor" look.
The house was built around 1860. We don't know the exact date it was finished. We also don't know who first owned it or who designed it. The outside of the house is about 30 feet long. It has five sections, or "bays," for windows and doors. There are decorative borders, called "cornices," around the top of the window frames.
Inside, the rooms connect to a main hallway. This hallway leads to a staircase. The stairs go up to the second floor of the central part of the house.
Why This House Is Important
In 1974, the Monitor House was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important historic sites in the United States. It was recognized because of its very unusual architecture.
There are only a few "monitor houses" known in Ohio. These are houses with a raised center section. The Monitor House in St. Paris is the best-preserved one. Because of its excellent condition, it is considered very important for the history of Ohio.
For example, another monitor house in Chillicothe, Ohio, called "Tanglewood," is only important to its local area. The St. Paris house was the first of over 30 places in Champaign County to be listed on the National Register. It is one of two such houses in St. Paris, along with the Kiser Mansion.
