National Register of Historic Places listings in Fairfield County, Ohio facts for kids

Location of Fairfield County in Ohio

Fairfield County, Ohio, is home to many special places that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This register is like a special list of buildings, areas, and sites across the United States that are important to history. When a place is on this list, it means it's recognized for its unique past, beautiful design, or connection to important events or people.

In Fairfield County, there are 47 places on this list! This includes one really important spot called a National Historic Landmark. A few other places were once on the list but have since been removed. This article will tell you about some of these cool historic spots.

What is the National Register of Historic Places?

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the nation's historic places worth saving. It's part of a program by the United States government to help protect and celebrate important parts of American history. When a building or site is added to this list, it helps people understand its value and encourages efforts to keep it safe for future generations. It's like giving a special award to places that tell a story about the past.

Historic Homes and Farms

Many of the places on the list in Fairfield County are old homes and farms. These buildings show us how people lived, worked, and built things a long time ago.

• Lyman Allen House and Barn (listed 1976): This old house and barn are located on Lancaster-Circleville Road SW in Amanda Township. They give us a peek into what farm life was like in the past.

The historic Lyman Allen House.

• John Artz Farmhouse (listed 1987): East of Lancaster in Berne Township, this farmhouse is another example of the area's farming history.

The John Artz Farmhouse.

• Barr House (listed 1980): You can find this house on West Main Street in Amanda. It's a historic home that has been preserved.

The Barr House in Amanda.

• Samuel Bush House (listed 1974): Located on Cold Spring Drive in Lancaster, this house is a significant part of the city's history.

The Samuel Bush House.

• Chestnut Ridge Farm (listed 1972): Southwest of Lancaster in Hocking Township, this farm shows us the agricultural roots of the region.

Chestnut Ridge Farm.

• J.H. Dovel Farm (listed 1982) and Dovel-Bowers House (listed 1993): These two properties in Pickerington offer a look at historic farm and home architecture.

The J.H. Dovel Farm.

The Dovel-Bowers House.

• John Gill Farmstead (listed 1997): West of Millersport in Walnut Township, this farmstead is a well-preserved example of a historic farm.

The John Gill Farmstead.

• Joseph Ijams House (listed 1983): This house on Main Street in West Rushville is another historic residence on the list.

The Joseph Ijams House.

• William Medill House (listed 1978): Found on North High Street in Lancaster, this house is part of the city's rich history.

The William Medill House.

• Miller Farm (listed 1978) and Henry Musser House (listed 1978): These properties in Walnut Township, near Baltimore, represent more of the area's farming heritage.

Buildings at Miller Farm.

The Henry Musser House.

• Valentine Reber House (listed 1975): West of Lancaster in Amanda Township, this house is a historic landmark.

The Valentine Reber House.

• Tallmadge-Mithoff House (listed 1976): Located on Lincoln Avenue (now Mithoff Drive) in Lancaster, this house is another important historic building.

The Tallmadge-Mithoff House.

Historic Bridges

Fairfield County also has some interesting old bridges on the National Register. These bridges often show unique building styles from the past.

• John Bright Covered Bridge (listed 1975): This covered bridge spans Fetters Run on the Ohio University Lancaster campus. It was moved from its original spot southwest of Baltimore.

The John Bright Covered Bridge.

• John Bright No. 1 Iron Bridge (listed 1978): Also on the Ohio University Lancaster campus, this iron bridge was moved from its first location northeast of Carroll.

The John Bright No. 1 Iron Bridge.

• Hizey Covered Bridge (listed 1976): This covered bridge is on a private drive in Violet Township. It was moved from its original location east of Pickerington.

The Hizey Covered Bridge.

• Rock Mill Covered Bridge (listed 1976): This bridge is found at Rock Mill in Bloom Township. It's a beautiful example of a historic covered bridge.

The Rock Mill Covered Bridge.

Important Districts and Other Structures

Some listings are not just single buildings but entire areas or unique structures that hold historical importance.

• Fairfield County Children's Home (listed 2008): This building on East Main Street in Lancaster served as a home for children.

The Fairfield County Children's Home.

• Dilger Store (listed 1985): Located on Main Street in West Rushville, this old store gives us a glimpse into past commerce.

The site of the Dilger Store.

• Lancaster Historic District (listed 1983): This large area in Lancaster includes many historic buildings. It's roughly bounded by 5th Avenue, railroad tracks, U.S. Route 33, and Tennant Street.

Part of the Lancaster Historic District.

• Lancaster Methodist Episcopal Camp Ground Historic District (listed 1987): This district is roughly bounded by the Hocking River, West Fair Avenue, and Ety Road in Lancaster. It was an important gathering place.

The open ground at Lancaster Methodist Campground.

• Lancaster West Main Street Historic District (listed 1979): This section of West Main Street in Lancaster, from Columbus to Broad Street, is recognized for its historic buildings.

Main Street in downtown Lancaster.

• Lockville Canal Locks (listed 1974): These locks are part of an old canal system in Lockville, Violet Township. Canals were like water highways used to transport goods a long time ago.

The Lockville Canal Locks.

• Pickerington Carnegie Library (listed 1993): This library on West Columbus Street in Pickerington was built with money from Andrew Carnegie, a famous businessman who funded many libraries.

The Pickerington Carnegie Library.

• Pickerington Depot (listed 1990): This old train station on North Center Street in Pickerington was a key spot for travel and trade.

The Pickerington Depot.

• Rock Mill (listed 1990): Located on the Hocking River northwest of Lancaster, this old mill was important for processing grains.

Rock Mill near Carroll, Ohio.

• Rushville Historic District (listed 1980): This district in Rushville includes Bremen Avenue, Main, and Market Streets, showing the historic layout of the town.

Market and Main Streets in Rushville.

• St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church (listed 1979): This church on Broad and Mullberry Streets in Lancaster is a beautiful historic place of worship.

St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church.

• John Sherman Birthplace (listed 1966): This house on East Main Street in Lancaster is a National Historic Landmark. It's where John Sherman, a very important politician, was born. He served as a U.S. Senator and Secretary of the Treasury.

The birthplace of John Sherman.

• Square 13 Historic District (listed 1972): This area in Lancaster, roughly along Broad and High Streets between Mulberry and Chestnut Streets, is another important historic district.

Part of the Square 13 Historic District.

Ancient Mounds and Sites

Fairfield County also has several ancient sites, including mounds built by early Native American cultures. These sites are important for understanding the history of the land long before European settlers arrived.

• Coon Hunters Mound (listed 1974): This mound is on the grounds of the Central Ohio Coonhunters Association near Carroll.

• Ety Enclosure (listed 1974) and Ety Habitation Site (listed 1974): These sites northeast of Carroll are important archaeological locations.

• Fortner Mounds I, II (listed 1974): These mounds are located northeast of Pickerington.

• Old Maid's Orchard Mound (listed 1974): This mound is found in Chestnut Ridge Metro Park, near Lithopolis.

• Theodore B. Schaer Mound (listed 1975): This mound is southeast of Canal Winchester.

• Tarlton Cross Mound (listed 1970): Located in Tarlton State Park, northwest of Tarlton, this mound has a unique cross shape.

The Tarlton Cross Mound.

• Winegardner Village (listed 1974): This ancient village site is on a bluff above Little Rush Creek, near Rushville.

The area of Winegardner Village.

Places That Used to Be Listed

Sometimes, places are removed from the National Register of Historic Places. This can happen if a building is destroyed, or if it changes so much that it no longer has its historic character. In Fairfield County, three covered bridges were once on the list but have since been removed:

• Blacklick Covered Bridge (listed 1977, delisted 1978): This bridge was west of State Route 256 in Pickerington.
• Loucks Covered Bridge (listed 1976, delisted 1985): This bridge was southeast of Canal Winchester.
• Stemen Road Covered Bridge (listed 1979, delisted 1985): This bridge was northeast of Pickerington over Sycamore Creek.

Images for kids

• Concord Hall.jpg

  Concord Hall in Hocking Township.

• Royalton House.jpg

  The Royalton House in Amanda Township.

• Willow Lane Farm.jpg

  Willow Lane Farm in Hocking Township.