Wilder–Swaim House facts for kids
The Wilder–Swaim House is a very old and special house located in Montgomery, Ohio. It was built way back in 1815! This house is important because it shows us what homes looked like a long time ago. It's named after two families, the Wilders and the Swaims, who lived there for many years.
Quick facts for kids |
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Wilder–Swaim 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 | 7650 Cooper Rd., Montgomery, Ohio |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1815 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000438 |
| Added to NRHP | May 20, 1981 |
Contents
About the Wilder–Swaim House
The Wilder–Swaim House is a historic building in Montgomery, Ohio, United States. It was built in 1815. The oldest part of the house has one and a half stories. This means it has a main floor and a smaller upper floor, often with sloped ceilings.
A Look Inside
Most of the house is built with a wooden frame. But it also has parts made from other materials. For example, there is a brick wall inside that helps stop fires from spreading. This is called a firewall. The house also has a decorative band called a frieze. This frieze has a special carving that sticks out a little, known as a bas-relief.
Who Lived Here?
The house gets its name from two important families. The Wilder family lived in the house for many years, from 1833 to 1879. Later, the Swaim family lived there from 1917 to 1976. Both families helped shape the history of this special home.
A Growing Home
A big change happened to the house around 1840. It was made much larger! This kind of expansion was common in early Montgomery. The town was changing from a small frontier settlement to a more established community. As the town grew, houses often grew too.
Why Is It Special?
Many buildings in Montgomery from the 1800s were built in the first half of the century. But houses as old as the Wilder–Swaim House are quite rare. This house has not changed much over time. It looks very similar to how it did long ago. Because of this, it is seen as one of the best-preserved examples of early Federal architecture in the area.
Protecting History
In 1981, the Wilder–Swaim House was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are important for their history or architecture. The house was added because its old architecture is so well-preserved.
Today, a group called the Montgomery Historic Preservation Association uses the house. This organization works to protect and save historic buildings. They help make sure places like the Wilder–Swaim House can be enjoyed for many more years.
Other Historic Spots in Montgomery
The Wilder–Swaim House is one of five places in Montgomery listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The other historic spots are:
- The Blair House
- The Montgomery Saltbox Houses
- The Universalist Church Historic District
- The Yost Tavern
