Morris Sharp House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Morris Sharp House
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Front and side of the house
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 517 Columbus St., Washington Court House, Ohio |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1875 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001483 |
| Added to NRHP | January 21, 1974 |
The Morris Sharp House is a special old house in Washington Court House, Ohio, United States. It was built in 1875 for Morris Sharp, who was an important person in the city. This house was designed to be a landmark, and it still is! For almost fifty years, it has been a museum where people can learn about history. It's even recognized as a historic site because it's so important.
Who Was Morris Sharp?
Morris Sharp was born in Aberdeen, Ohio in 1838. When he was young, his family moved to Jamestown, Ohio and then to Washington Court House. After finishing school, he worked with his father in the family business.
Later, Morris Sharp became a very successful businessman. In 1872, he helped start the Merchants and Farmers Bank and became its first cashier. He was known for being very good with money and business. Until he passed away in 1905, he managed many banking interests and large farms. Morris Sharp was also a member of the local Methodist church. He strongly believed that alcohol should be illegal. He even ran for Governor of Ohio as a candidate for the Prohibition Party, which was a political group that wanted to ban alcohol.
The House's Amazing Design
The Morris Sharp House was built in 1875. It's made of brick with a strong stone foundation and a slate roof. It also has pretty details made of wood and stone. This house is two stories tall and is a great example of the Italianate style.
The house has two main parts, called wings, that meet at the bottom of a tall tower. This tower is right in the middle of the house! Inside, there are fourteen rooms. One special room is on the third floor of the tower, and you can reach it by climbing a spiral staircase. With its tower, the Morris Sharp House is one of the tallest buildings in the city. Only the courthouse and St. Colman's Catholic Church are taller. The house also stands out because it's located at a busy intersection where Washington and Columbus Avenues meet. Morris Sharp wanted his house to be grand. He reportedly said he hoped it would be "the showplace of Washington Court House."
A Museum for Everyone
In 1958, the Fayette County Historical Society bought the Morris Sharp House. Seven years later, in 1965, it opened as the Fayette County Museum. It's still a museum today! Inside, you can see many interesting things from the past, like old furniture, important documents, historic clothes, and even old weapons.
The house became even more famous in 1974. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places because of its beautiful and important architecture. The National Register lists places in the United States that are important to history. The Morris Sharp House was one of the first buildings in Washington Court House to get this special recognition. Only the Fayette County Courthouse was added to the list before it.
