Decorative drawing: an ornate nineteenth-century American house. Not a photograph of this place.

Nomination for Empire House

The case file that argued this property on to the National Register: 1,607 words across 13 pages, filed in 1978. Read by 4 independent recognisers, of which at least 3 had to agree before a line was published.

Source document Held by the National Archives in Record Group 79 as reference 78002216, where it exists only as a scan with no text layer. The words below were read off that scan by 4 independent recognisers at two resolutions. Only lines that at least 3 of them returned identically appear below; where they disagreed, the line is withheld rather than guessed, so some of the form's furniture is missing. Spelling is never corrected, so a stray character that all the readers agreed on is the recogniser's and the typewriter's.. Nothing is summarised, corrected or written by this site. See the catalogue record, or return to the property.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form No. 10-300 (Rev. 10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE JUL 1 8 1978 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM NOV 2 8 1978 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS AND/OR COMMON STREET & NUMBER 5535 U.S. Route 20 NOT FOR PUBLICATION CITY, TOWN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 5th (Latta, VICINITY OF 173 - PRESENT USE X BUILDING(S) -WORK IN PROGRESS XPRIVATE RESIDENCE PUBLIC ACQUISITION -IN PROCESS X.YES: RESTRICTED -YES: UNRESTRICTED The OWNER OF PROPERTY 5 LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE REGISTRY OF DEEDS,ETC. REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS 2. Landmarks Commitee Ohio Historic Inventory I. Summer, 1974 2.
February, 1977 DEPOSITORY FOR 43537 039 Wood COUNTY DATE CODE OWNERSHIP UNOCCUPIED TITLE OBJECT LOCATION Maumee GOVERNMENT Court Street AGRICULTURE MILITARY ACCESSIBLE INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION RECEIVED CATEGORY DISTRICT BOTH STATE HISTORIC CLASSIFICATION EDUCATIONAL PARK SITE NAME PUBLIC Stony Ridge Antiques Ohio Wood County Courthouse Stony Ridge STATUS PRIVATE LLandmarks Committee Wood County Survey- SCIENTIFIC _MUSEUM DATE ENTERED Bowling Green XCOMMERCIAL Landmarks Committee of _BEING CONSIDERED SURVEY RECORDS 1031 River Road Roger L. Hillabrand - Stony Ridge Antiques The Empire House FOR NPS USE ONLY -STRUCTURE FEDERAL STATE XCOUNTY LOCAL -ENTERTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS Maumee Valley Historical Society DESCRIPTION X ORIGINAL SITE RUINS DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

The Empire House is a massive, 3 story Greek Revival Inn with a shallow hip roof, which simple framing, and are 6/6 lite, double-hung sash. The front (north) facade is 5 bay, either side, piercing the roof. A side entrance once opened: from the northernmost bay of the east facade, but is now a window. A probable summer kitchen is at the southeastern rear of the main but is de- rough hewn, natural limestone foundation is ½ the height of the entire building. A shed ed by rooms on either side, including a spring hung, 'floating floor' ballroom on the CONDITION DATE UNEXPOSED UNALTERED DETERIORATED FAIR porch area. XALTERED and appears to match the original design. Black aluminum shutters have been added to the exterior at each window.
windows (single sash,3/3 lites).First and second story windows are unadorned with stairs on the eastern facade.Rock faced cement block fills in and supports the screened reliefs reminiscent of the Adam Brothers' floral motifs. closely matches the width and color of the original boards. A plain entablature at the roof line features a simple molded cornice, and a wide freize board with square attic CHECK ONE walls are white clapboard, which have been covered with white aluminum siding, which tached.It is also gable roofed, and features an overhanging second story covering a XEXCELLENT roofed addition is attached at the rear, and there is an elevated entrance with wooden _MOVED -GOOD double hung sash windows is attached to thesouthwestern rear portion of the main building, lights flank the doorway.The entablature and pilasters are also covered with aluminum.
entablature mirrors the simplicity of the upper entablature.Pilasters and simple side- The foundation is natural hewn limestone. A one story, gabled roof wing with 2/2 lite, second floor.Simple panelled wooden doors and frames were authentically marbelized AREAS OF

Statement of significance

mantles, and doors, which define this outstanding Wood County landmark. The Empire House, built in 1848-49 by John Elderkin on the old 'mud pike" rests prominently atop an ancient glacial ridge. The importance of the 'mud pike' to the 'pike' was begun in1825, and connected lower Sandusky (now Fremont, Ohio) with Perrysburg, Ohio. Along its 31 miles, toll gates, mile posts (now restored and reconstructed), and The Empire House is now the most recognizable remaining Inn along the 'pike'. It was located midway between the Woodville and Perrysburg toll gates, and boasted 'clean The 'Empire' was popular throughout the area, and hosted all types of visitors for many years, but recently (1950) became an antique store.
Although it continues ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC SCIENCE ENGINEERING X1800-1899 BUILDER/ARCHITECT PERIOD THEATER SIGNIFICANCE EDUCATION ARCHITECTURE ART AGRICULTURE PREHISTORIC RELIGION PHILOSOPHY POLITICS/GOVERNMENT SCULPTURE TRANSPORTATION MILITARY LITERATURE INDUSTRY MUSIC John Elderkin XEXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT former turnpike known as the Western Reserve Road, which connected Northwest Ohio with as evidenced by the refined Greek Revival architecture and beautiful interior, woodwork, overland transportation route through the great Black Swamp of Northwestern Ohio.The that use, the Empire House retains much of its original character and setting.
regional settlement patterns cannot be over estimated, because it served as the major and travelers, from local farm hands to conestoga wagon trains.It remained hostelry -1400-1499 floating floor.A summer kitchen was built.to the rear of the main building, but its -1600-1699 _SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN 3l Inns greeted hoards of travelers. date is unknown.A large horse barn was destroyed by fire. -1700-1799 (Local History) -1900- -CONSERVATION -LAW ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC COMMUNITY PLANNING rooms', an 'excellent kitchen', a 'refreshing bar', and an 'immense' ballroom with a INVENTION the eastern United States. The Empire House was certainly the most elegant in this area, The Empire House is one of very few remaining Inns and Taverns alonqU.S. 20, the

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES 1. 1974 Landmarks Committee Survey Research, Katie Schneider and Phyllis Willbach 2. Interviews with owner 3. "Stony Ridge, Ohio-Centennial, 1872-1972". 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY Less than 1 acre VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION said property, thence southwesterly along said fence line to the intersection with a line running approximately three feet behind the described "Summer Kitchen", thence IST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIE: STATE - 11 FORM PREPARED BY NAME / TITLE Ted J.
Ligibel-Historic Preservation Officer (419) 244-1776 CITY OR TOWN Ohio 43624 12 STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER CERTIFICATION THE EVALUATED SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROPERTY WITHIN THE STATE IS: NATIONAL _ LOCAL X 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 according to the STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER SIGNATURE FOR NPS USE ONLY I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PROPERTY IS INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER TELEPHONE NORTHING DATE ORGANIZATION CODE COUNTY 2/24/77 Toledo ATTEST: ZONE EASTING northwesterly along said line to the intersection with the eastern edge of said access UTM REFERENCES Landmarks-NW Ohio Historic Preservation Office Beginning at the point of intersection of the eastern edge of said property access U.S.
20 to the intersection with the extended fence line at the eastern edge of GPO 892-453 ZONE rive, thence northeasterly along said edge to the point of origin criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service. drive with the southerly curb line of U.S. Route 20, thence southeasterly along 14519.7940 Photos - Inventory - BRANCH CHIEF NOV 28 1978 National Register Write-up OTHER KEEPER ARCHEOLOGIST HAER CONTROL Entered Maps Send-back Re-submit Property HISTORIAN State Review Working Number7. 18.78.
3638 TECHNICAL Federal Register Entry REVIEW UNIT CHIEF United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WAso No.7 11-21-78 IN T:2106- 74 11-24.78 NOV 2 8 PHOTO BY: TED J LIGIBEL JANUARY, 1978 SIDE AND REAR FACADES, LOOKING NORTHEAST PHOTO #: 1 of 5 JUL 1 8 1978 THE EMPIRE HOUSE STONY RIDGE,OHIO NOV 2 8 1978 STONY RIDGE, OHIO PHOTO BY: TED J LIGIBEL JANUARY, 1978 FRONT AND SIDE FACADES, LOOKING SOUTHWEST PHOTO #: 2 of 5 JUL 1 8 1978 THE EMPIRE HOUSE STONY RIDGE, OHIO NOV 2 8 1978 PHOTO BY: TED J LIGIBEL JANUARY, 1978 SUMMER KITCHEN AT REAR, LOOKING SOUTHWEST PHOTO #: 3 of 5 JUL 1 8 1978 THE EMPIRE HOUSE STONY RIDGE Antiques MAIN ST., STONEY RIDGE STONY RIDGE, OHIO NOV 2 8 1978 PHOTO BY: LUCIA A.
SPURGEON AUGUST, 1974 FRONT AND SIDE FACADES, LOOKING SOUTHEAST PHOTO # : 4 of 5 JUL 1 8 1978 BEFORE ALUMINUM SIDING THE EMPIRE HOUSE STONY RIDGE, OHIO JANUARY, 1978 PHOTO #: 5 Of 5 JUL 1 8 1978 THE EMPIRE HOUSE PHOTO BY: TED J LIGIBEL NOV 2 8 The Empire House JUL 1 8 1978 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ROSSFORD QUADRANGLE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATES ROSSFORD, 3) date of entry: NOV 2 8 1978 city / town X STATE 5535 U.S. 20 CONGRESS. DISTRICT 5th SOURCE of NOMINATION - deteriorated Daltered Dexeellent EO NOT INTACT-O -good Ounexposed - Unknown Dunexeavated :- NOT APPLICABLE -7 - No Access IS PROPERTY A HISTORIC DISTRICT?
[yes Ono * AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE : - LANDSCAPE ARCH.- 15 -RECREATION -28 OCLAIMS: explain - POLITICS / GOVT.- 21 -ARCHEOLOGY - prehistoric-2 C LAW- 16 - RELIGION-22 C SETTLEMENT-29 - ARCHEOLOGY-historic-1 - COMMUNICATIONS-7 -EXPLORATION - 12 - LITERATURE- 17 - SCIENCE- 23 'oldest' O - AGRICULTURE -3 - CONSERVATION- 8 C HEALTH-27 C MILITARY - 18 - ARCHITECTURE-4 - ECONOMICS- 9 C INDUSTRY- 13 C MUSIC - 19 - SOCIAL / CULTURAL - 30 'only' D C ART-5 - EDUCATION-10 - INVENTION -14 - PHILOSOPHY - 20 - TRANSPORTATION - 25 @architectural style(s): -landseape architect / garden designer : )interior decorator: _date.
IF ADDITIONAL SPACE NEEDED, NUMBER & PUT ON REVERSE 173 CONDITION Wood ENTERTAINMENT-26 historic events: INSTITUTIONAL: Stony Ridge Antiques FEDERAL PERSONAL: COMMERCE-6 ENGINEERING-11 major alterations: ASSOCIATION Empire House CURRENTLY: EVENTS: vicinity of artist: URBAN PLANWING-31 builder/contractor: LOCAL SUBSTANTIALLY INTACT-1 WHEN HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT: reviewers initials ADMINISTRATOR: master builder: NATIONAL REGISTER WRITE-UP SAVED?YES dates of initial construction: NATIONAL REGISTER DATA SHEET Bfunctions as it appears on federal register: Ooriginal site 2OTHER NAMES: 4county code: Oruins BNPS REGION: OWNER *PRIVATE OOSTATE MUNICIPAL COUNTY MULTIPLE FEDERAL(agency name) less than 1 Mteatures: > C UNKNOWN -6 ACCESS Fartisan: -reconstructed ETHNIC GROUP PRIVATE ORGANIZATION Stony Ridge Ofair first'D Omoved