William H. Grant House (Middleport, Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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William H. Grant 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 | 453 Grant St., Middleport, Ohio |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1852 |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002136 |
| Added to NRHP | March 30, 1978 |
The William H. Grant House is a special old house in Middleport, Ohio. It's known for being one of the very first houses in the area made from concrete. Because it's so unique and important to history, it has been named a historic site.
Contents
A Unique Concrete Home
This house was built way back in 1852. It's made of strong concrete, sitting on a base of sandstone. The house has two stories and is shaped like a rectangle. About ten years after it was first built, a small wooden addition was added to the back.
Who Was William H. Grant?
William H. Grant was born in 1820. He was a pioneer in using concrete for buildings in Meigs County, Ohio. He built a small test house out of concrete first, which is no longer there. The William H. Grant House, which you can still see today, was the second concrete building he constructed in the county.
A Place of History and Faith
Besides being a family home, the William H. Grant House is also important for its religious history in Middleport.
Johnny Appleseed's Visit
Before he passed away in 1845, the famous Johnny Appleseed visited Middleport. During his visit, he shared his beliefs with the Grant family, and they became followers of a religion called Swedenborgianism. This religion was based on the ideas of Emanuel Swedenborg.
A Meeting Place for Faith
After the Grants built their new house, other people in Middleport also joined the Swedenborgian religion. The Grant family then used their home as a special meeting place for everyone who followed this new faith.
A Recognized Historic Site
Because of its important role in local history and its unusual concrete construction, the William H. Grant House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This means it's officially recognized as a place worth preserving. It is one of three places in Middleport on this important list. The other two are the John Downing Jr. House and the Middleport Public Library.
