Major Bibliographical References At Rittman Press, Wednesday, October 13, 1976, page 6. Wooster Daily Record, Friday, October 1, 1937. Frey, Russell, Historic Heritage of Wayne County, Ohio. Wooster: Wayne Co. Historical Society, 1976, page 73, 139. Acreage of nominated property five Quadrangle scale 1:24,000 UMT References one hundred feet north, one hundred feet east, three hundred feet west and three hundred ..
state Steven McQuillin, Regional Preservation Officer telephone (419) 755-4011 city or town Ohio 44906 The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: _ national As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89 665),I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated State Historic Preservation Officer signature GPO 938 835 code county date Northing Mansfield Easting Zone 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification Chief of Registration 10.
Geographical Data feet south forming a four hundred foot square containing the house, two barns and outbuildings Keeper of the National Register Attest: name/title The boundary around the Jacob Gish House extends one hundred feet in all four directions.See For HCRS use only SHPO ×local Quadrangle name Rittman, Ohio according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service. I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register five EVALUATION / RETURN SHEET - REJECT photos = V3. Classification 4. Owner of Property V5. Location of Legal Description T.
Description - excellent - deteriorated - original site _ ruins Date Due: - unexposed resubmission Location completeness alterations/integrity boundary selection Name maps clarity RETURN owner objection Action: appeal Reviewer's Substantive Review: nomination by person or local government summary paragraph 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Nomination returned for: Vsubstantive reasons discussed below National Park Service NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Federal Agency: United States Department of the Interior Fed. Reg. Date: Check one State, County:_ - unaitered .moved ACCEPT good technical corrections cited below Working No. Status Accessible Ownership Public Acquieitien tien relating significance to the resource justification of exception 9. Major Bibliographical References X 10. Geographical Data Quedrangle name _ 12.
State Historic Preservation Officer Certification completeness Maps context checked Photographs clarity Date summary paragraph Other applicable criteria justification of areas Significance 11. Form Prepared By Phone: 202 272-3504 relationship of integrity United States Department of the Interior Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service received APR 27 1982 See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms Type all entries - complete applicable sections The Gish Farmhouses and/or common street & number - not for publication city, town Mc. & vicinity of . county _ state Present Use - unoccupied _ agriculture X museum - district _ public - private - park . structure X both X work in progress X private residence - site _ religious _ in process X yes: restricted -government yes: unrestricted _transportation - military Wayne County Courthouse courthouse, registry of deeds, etc.
has this property been determined elegible? - federal - local depository for survey records 2. Location 039 Category code Accessible entertainment Ownership date commercial Ohio object Rittman educational Status industrial 3. Classification historic 6. Representation in Existing Surveys The Wooster Inventory-Nomination Form National Register of Historic Places scientific Wayne title 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description Gish Rd. being considered FHR8300 (1178) congressional district 16 - Ralph Regula date entered Public Acquisition X building(s) For HCRS use only Gish Road 1. Name 30 North Main Street state Ohio 44270 City of Rittman and Evangeline 0linger - yes no Public Square None _ excellent - unaltered _ ruins .
unexposed Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance This is a grouping of historic buildings which formed the nucleus of a large tobacco thousand people, these buildings enjoy a picturesque hilly rural site. The buildings with returns at the sides, and small rectangular windows and doors plus a shallow pitched sides, plus windows and doors which are not aligned on the first and second floors are are in the front of the building while 'a kitchen and spare room are at the reat of the! to the attic. The original plaster and láthing strips are missing from interior walls, wall areas. The basement is a modern feature, with restrooms, and features a grade level parlors finished in attractive oak woodwork. A grand stairway in front ascends to the example of late nineteenth century farmhouse architecture.
To the south and west of the John Gish House are two large brick barns which were used in the tobacco operation, plus some smaller wood sheds. These buildings are simple utilitarian structures which are, nevertheless, unusual in that they are lower and more Condition 7. Description kitchen facilities date principally from the early twentieth century.The house has been having been removed several years ago in anticipation of the building's demolition.All evidence of its existence.Plans are underway to reconstruct this missing feature.The nominated consist of two houses and several outbuildings. The Jacob Gish House is a two story rectangular wood frame building which rests on a Check one well maintained and has had almost no alterations..It isa large, rare,and unusually fine X original site (John Gish House) -fair X good cinderblock foundation.
Massive proportions, the presence of a large, simple entablature building is surmounted by a slate roof. The original slate were recently relaid and the roof flashing repaired. Inside, the house features a number of small rooms. Iwo parlors first floor. The second floor consists of four bedrooms. Stairs lead from the basement Inside are a number of large structed of brick and featuring extensive wooden ornamentation. Elaborate porches, gables deteriorated substantially constructed than is typical for farm-related structures. Cemetery.A few hundred yards away, and visible from the house, is the John Gish House. Second floor which has over a half dozen bedrooms.A large rear stairway goes from the Areas of Significance - Check and justify below - prehistoric - archeology-historic . law .literature .
sculpture - music _ commerce exploration/settlement _ - philosophy - politics/government other (specify) 1859, 1888 Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) The Gish Farm is significant as the largest tobacco farm in this region, which, at the height of its operations in the mid to late nineteenth centuries, enabled its owners the last physical vestige of this important industry. In addition, the earlier building unusually large and rare example of brick Queen Anne style architecture and survives today in excellent condition. land here and erected a cabin in 1831. Unfortunately a survey in 1832 revealed that the cabin was actually on a neighboring tract of land and Gish was obliged to dismantle and trade, erected. This is the large wood frame Greek Revival Style House now owned by the His son John took over the Gish Tobacco Company and expanded it.
He moved the family house about one hundred yards to the top of a small hill. Then he and his brother Abraham built the magnificent brick mansion near the new location of the homestead. Several large 1700-1799 1400-1499 transportation 1800-1899 conservation communications industry economics engineering theater military 8. Significance science Period social/ Specific dates 1900- education humanitarian an extensive tobacco operation which produced cigars for shipment all over the country, Gish 0linger, still lives in the brick residence, which retains most of its barns and _invention _art - archeology-prehistoric _ landscape architecture _ - religion X agriculture X architecture but particularly in the Ohio region.
These two farmhouses with their outbuildings, are is a fine example of Greek Revival.Style architecture and the later residence is an Jacob Gish was born and raised in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He married there and began preparations for moving westward to Ohio in 1830. Gish purchased 116 acres of move the structure. The Gish family lived in this log building for 29 years and raised a suitable house for his large family in 1859 which his oldest son, Abraham, a carpenter by city of Rittman. Gish died at the age of 60 four years after the house was finished. outbuildings. The older Gish house was sold outside the family and deteriorated to the where it stands a short distance from its original site. Restoration of the interior is underway and the building will become a museum and public meeting facility. the raising of tobacco here and encouraged other farmers to grow this crop.
Gish operated 1600-1699 1500-1599 - - communityplanning Rittman Press, Wednesday, October 13, 1976, page 6. Wooster Daily Record, Friday, October 1, 1937. Society, 1976, page 73, 139. UMT References one hundred feet north, one hundred feet east, three hundred feet west and three hundred - state Steven McQuillin, Regional Preservation Officer street & number 1660 University Drive :telephone (419) 755-4011 Ohio 44906 city or town The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: - national As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89 665),I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and ceftify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service.
State Historic Preservation Officer signature GPO 938 835 code Easting date county Northing Mansfield Zone 10. Geographical Data 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification name/title Attest: 9. Major Bibliographical References UTM NOT VERIFIED Chief of Registration I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register The boundary around the Jacob Gish House extends one hundred feet in all four directions.See Keeper of the National Register feet south forming a four hundred foot square containing the house, two barns and outbuildings. Quadrangle scale 1:24, 000 11. Form Prepared By ACREAGE NOT VERIFIED For HCRS use only 8.9.82 SHPO Frey, Russell, Historic Heritage of Wayne County, Ohio. Wooster: Wayne Co.
Historical Acreage of nominated property - date July 1981 USES map organization Quadrangle name Rittman, Ohio The Ohio State University at Mansfield Five See (ontinuation sheet OMB NO. 1024-0018 NPS Form 10-900-a EXP. 12/31/84 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Item number Gish Farmhouses, Rittman Vicinity, Wayne County, Ohio John Gish House and Barns: Beginning at the Junction of the north side of the driveway angle north to the south side of Gish Road; then proceed along Gish Road to the place of are located. Acreage: approximately 3 1/2.
of its junction with Sunset Drive, proceed east 175'; then proceed north at a right angle 100'; then proceed west at a right angle to Gish Road; then proceed south to the point of Page received date entered Inventory-Nomination Form National Register of Historic Places Continuation sheet (7-81) For NPS use only and the east side of Gish Road, proceed north 75'; then proceed east 100'; then proceed south at a right angle 300'; then proceed at a right angle 400'; then proceed at a right Jacob Gish House: Beginning at a point in the east side of Gish Road that is 400' north Gish Farmhouses, Rittman, Wayne County, Ohio E. SUNSET DR. Cem. Shinesbwg SCALE John Gish Barns _ boundary Tobucco 1,000 ft. Ist United States Department of the Interior EVALUATION / RETURN SHEET Gish Farmhouses _ RETURN - REJECT- photos 4 1. Name 3. Classification 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6.
Representation in Existing Surveys 7. Description - original site dates resubmission completeness alterations/integrity clarity Action: summary paragraph _substantive reasons discussed below boundary selection NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Federal Agency: owner objection nomination by person or local government 2. Location Date Due: National Pank Service Substantive Review Property: - see continuation sheet - technical corrections cited below -unaltered NR decision .Nomination returned for: ruins 7.22-82 SAM resource 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification - Date - Signed context clarity completeness checked Photographs Maps Other applicable criteria 8.
Significance summary paragraph justification of excepticn justification of areas Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet relating significance to Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Barns, 1o0king west GF-1 Gish Farmhouses Rittman, Ohio Steven licQuillin OSU at liansfield July 1981 GF-2 Gish farmhouses John Gish House, looking SE Steven licQuillin Rittman, Ohio July 1981 OSU at liansifeld John Gish House, looking east Rittman,Ohio GF-3 Gish farmhouses Steven llcQuillin OSU at liansfield Jacob Gish House, looking east GF-4 Steven McQuillin Gish farmhouses Rittman, Ohio CSU at iansfield July 1981 Gish farmhouses Jacob Gish House, looking south Steven lcQuillin Rittman, Ohio July 1981 OSU at Mansfield GF-5 C.S MINUTE SERIES (TOPOGRAPHIC RITTMAN QUADRANGLE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Rittman, Ohio STATE OF OHIO uTm: 17/434900/4536880 DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES N4C52.5W8145/7.5 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY June 30, 1932 Ms.
Carol Shull National Register of Historic Places 440 G Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20240 Isham, John, House Black, Joseph, House Gish Farmhouses Please let me know if you have any additional questions. W. Ray Luce State Historic Preservation Officer Name Lucas WRL/das Sincerely, Wayne County Pickaway Ohio Historic Preservation Office Acting Keeper JUL 6 1982 Dear Ms.Shul1: RECETVED Enclosed are three nominations returned by your staff.for more information. Rittman, Ohio The Paper that Likes People Wednesday, July 2, 1975 By Lindsey Williams the day, the new couple The old Gish homestead - prepared to move west to deeds in the Wooster Court Martin Fritz. So, in 1832, a proud link between the past House, the tract had been his property, cutting a long Rittman, and in danger of came to Wayne County alone on horseback seeking suitable 1815. John Reese sold the land farm land.
He found what he to Andrew Reese - probably If it is not the oldest house was looking for in a tract just a brother, on Nov. 6, 1829 for probably of squared logs and in Rittman, it is nearly so - north of Martin Fritz, the first $360. Andrew Reese sold it to having been built in 1859 by settler here. Jacob Gish June 3, 1831 for until 1859. There they raised Jacob Gish who settled here Sons than a quarter section - 116 Jacob moved his wife here Jacob was born and reared acres - because it was ad- the same year and built a log in Lancaster County, Penn- jacent to the 4ist parallel of cabin along a newly cut road sylvania, and there married latitude which had been tobacco. It was a low-volume, of his land did not front on the or Fire Lands, now known as descent. As was the custom of Drive - and he had built by and five three $510. daughters. vandalism.
by horse-drawn wagon from this frontier region. A FINE EXAMPLE of Western Reserve architecture is the Old Gish Homestead now rapidly deteriorating. Unfortunately the boundary According to yellowing Stark County by grant from high-value product which Miss Fannie Shank in 1830. destruction by time and At this time an important the Western Reserve. Jacob dismantled his cabin For this purpose, Jacob assigned to John Reese of mistake on the property of crop for Ohio farmers was neglected on the outskirts of The land was slightly less boundary of Sufferer's Lands, their own family. could be profitably shipped from Doylestown to Jackson. and rebuilt it in the center of in 1831.
- now East Sunset The Gish's lived in the Both were of large Men- and the present - stands road - now virgin land and establish structure, original Gish Homestead Reminiscent designated the southern nonite families of Swiss President Madison on July 17, lane to the main road. Jacob Gish became a major grower of tobacco and grew prosperous. Thus, in 1859 he timber from his own forest. He chose the popular Western Reserve -or Greek Revival - style now to be seen in the original only in Hudson, Ohio, and at the Hale Homestead complex in Bath, Ohio. Jacob, then 56, finished his fine home in 1860 but he lived only four years more before he died. His widow, however, - continued to live at the Homestead with the family of During the Civil War - with the supply of southern states tobacco cut off - John JACOB GISH greatly expanded his plan- He became tobacco farmers in the area.
preserved by the remaining straight and strong, but badly in need of some new siding, Homestead place no longer The late Lyman Gish began inside plastering and a hole was adequate so early in 1888 a major restoration of the he moved it by horses, tackle road from the Homestead and and log rollers up the hill to The estate of Lyman Gish is where it now stands. Im- bought tobacco, adding it to when the job was only half unable to completed. The house, with struction of a brick mansion .an unfinished basement and selected as an official vitation to vandals. Soon the delcined shortly before World hand-blown glass panes in the War I as the milder White windows were shattered and Burley - requiring a long, trash thrown into the open for a museum, or furnished A succession of Gish family hot growing period - became with antique furniture of the popular. The Gish family then With this Mrs.
Evangeline -period as a living exhibitof in the Homestead and shared returned to "mixed crops and Olinger (nee Gish) and her in the labor and profits of the dairying", but the land no husband Simon boarded the longer could support so large are studying the problem of a family clan. Slowly the Gish by the death of Fannie in 1895 preparatory to new plaster Homestead. So far, no-plans at the age of 87 planned by Lyman. About this time the huge dollars pledged tobacco barn and small brick home stands today. Still tings. preserving modern her second son, John. restore Gish The residence prohibitive. Gish House growing nation. basement excavation. Rittman's origins.
Several interested groups Historical Landmark by the hand-hewn beams exposed FANNIE GISH (Continued from Page 1) harmony was briefly marred Gish Homestead cutting the windows to preserve the which recently has been plugged in its slate roof. Homestead for a dwelling. mediately he began con- The structure could be But there is hope.
The cost of turning it into a Thus the venerable old open woodwork was an in- Homestead in 1967 but was their own tobe steamed office was built across the wholesaler for the smaller cled in and finished inside As John's family grew the Society members drifted to - other business tobacco Historical Restoration members subsequently lived Wayne County Historical have been made nor any baled and shipped toa killed in a tragic accident destruction, is on its way to a The structure has been bolted to a steel frame and will be moved to the Pioneer week by the Art Martin House Moving Company of Wooster. building is a major project of Club saved the old Gish home It is hoped that additional turn the architectural land- of pioneer crafts." man of the Commission, said designation of Rittman as an official National Bicentennial the basis of the Gish project.
RITTMAN'S OLDEST BUILDING has begun its mose to Pioneer Cemetery as part of the An application filed earlier Bicentennial observance next year. Steel moving frame will remain in place to support the this year had been held up for was a cabin of squared logs community must provide a structure now being moved visible reminder of the an- Cemetery on Gish Road at a "meaningful" programs to but his widow and mark the past, present, and second son, John, continued to live in the homestead until when larger, more modern Bicentennial project will be similar to that of Rittman churches in Rittman served have been approved for ming had become prosperous the spiritual needs of the Orrville, Stow and other Ohio cities," said Williams.
"Our move the homestead up the The Pioneer Cemetery and project goes beyond a simple museum of artifacts and will serve as a land mark to the illustrate how our forefathers courage and fortitude of those performed their daily tasks to Williams said Jacob Gish moved his bride Society. It is occupied by Mr. would attempt to raise money to what is now Rittman in near once Reserve chitecture future. 1888. "Restoration projects, Western Bicentennial recognition, the Rittman Bicentennial contributions and pledges will Cemetery sometime this Once the project nears pay moving costs. Reconstruction of the would be undertaken. Historic Gish Homestead, historic structure when fixed to its permanent foundation. wrest homes and industries new and permanent location.
an outstanding example of Wayne County Historical tennial Commission now We already have a dozen Community has been filed on raising S5 thousand for the At that time tobacco far- out of the wilderness. of Jacob Gish. with a $3,00 dollar pledge to application for 1831, clearing virgin land to and Mrs. Simon Olinger, and to put a basement grow tobacco. His first home building. It will be placed The Gish Homestead will be over a basement excavation and restored. Jacob died in site originally occupied by the Church. The church building ment in storage," Williams and enough to enable John Gish to citizens completion, however,itwill donated by the Gish family Nineties" brick home at the early in the last century, and old location.
That building deeded to the City of Rittman "Historic Landmark" by the Williams said the Bicen- To qualify for official who for the fine Gish Home Move Underway dwelling in1859with the thousand for the utilities. niversary and carry out historic "lasting reminder" He replaced this humble mark into a "living exhibit
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