Nomination for Mercer Log House

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

receivedsEP 4 date entered OCT 16 198l 1. Name MERCER LOG HOUSE 2. Location street & number 41 North First Street - not for publication - vicinity of city, town . county - 3. Classification _ district X public - unoccupied - agriculture . museum X building(s) - private - commercial - park X work in progress - private residence Site . religious _ object X yes: restricted _ being considered - yes: unrestricted - military 4. Owner of Property 44 Hebble Street 5. Location of Legal Description courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Main Street and Detroit Street Ohio 45385 has this property been determined elegible?

- yes _ local Ohio Historical Society I-71 and 17th Avenue Ohio 43211 039 1979 45324 transportation entertainment Category Fairborn government both Accessible educational code Ownership date Greene structure Public Acquisition Status 7th historic other: Xenia congressional district Columbus industrial Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service vacant scientific Inventory-Nomination Form Ohio Present Use Type all entries-complete applicable sections Greene County Building Xstate National Register of Historic Places title Ohio Historic Inventory United States Department of the Interior depository for survey records See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms 6. Representation in Existing Surveys in process The City of Fairborn For HCRS use only code 057 yes X no _federal X state FHR-8-300 (11-78) 7.

Description _ excellent X original site X altered X fair for siding remains on the exterior walls all siding has been removed except a small portion at the rear. The finishing of the daubing to the outer surface of the logs on three walls suggests they were exposed originally. The daubing on the rear wall, The main entrance is through a six panel door and a board and batten door is on south end wall to accomodate a large firebox although both it and the chimney were removed sometime ago. Some damage was done to the upper logs from moisture retention while the chimney was still in place. adjacent to the former fireplace. The walls were whitewashed before they were levels. A single window was near the corner of the first lower level. plastered. Condition unexposed ruins Check one be 19th century framing, although probably not the original.

- moveddate Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

facade.A two story central porch has been removed because of its poor condition. windows flank the central doors on both the first and second floor levelsof the of its conditions.Paint remmants in the rear siding indicate a smaller gable roofed _ unaltered The Mercer Log Houseis located at the southwest corner of North First and Middle however, was not finished to the exterior of the logs suggesting the presence of an early wing was located here previously. Doors entered a rear wing at both lower and upper deteriorated The interior contains no partitions and the stairway is in the southwest corner Alow gable roof with shingles.covers the house.A large opening was cut into the 8.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance Areas of Significance-Check and justify below - prehistoric - archeology-historic - agriculture . literature - 1600-1699 X architecture - military _art _music X 1800-1899 .commerce 1Lpolitics/government The Mercer Log House is significant as an early 19th century log building whose basic structural components, the log themselves,are remarkable well preserved. The structural integrity of the vast majority of log structures in the state have suffered of the Mercer Log House, a rare glimpse of early 19th century design and construction The exact early history of the house is unclear, although a late 19th century descendant of the founder of the village claimed it was constructed in 1799.

Actually the.small number of openings, proportions of the perimeter to the heighth (emphasizing a square appearance), and the very large opening in the logs provided for the fireplace all suggest a late 18th and early 19th century construction date. Robert Mercer is the first recorded ownership of the property dating to 1817 when the area was platted as Fairfield. The lot it sets on was the first property sold in the village. The tax of the house if not its construction. 1500-1599 1400-1499 1700-1799 communications economics transportation conservation education industry engineering humanitarian Builder/Architect theater Period 1900- science sculpture law social/ techniques is possible. invention Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

(in one paragraph) as a variety of new openings were cut into the original pen.Because of the integrity - - other (specify) - archeology-prehistoric - - community planning . landscape architecture _ religion ca 1799-1829 assessment of the lot increased substantially in 1829 suggesting at least an enlargement Specific dates 9.

The rest of the file

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

Major Bibliographical References Cole, Paul, Fairborn Historic Structures, Inc Hutsler, Donald, Ohio Historical Society. 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property_less than one Quadrangle scale 1:24,000 UMT References Lot #100 in the City of Fairborn. - state 11. Form Prepared By organization Regional Office SHA Ohio 45402 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification _ 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 according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service.

- Keeper of the National Register code date Zone Easting Northing county telephone Attest: Chief of Registration I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register name/title Verbal boundary description and justification State Historic Preservation Officer signature The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries (513) 228-6271 For HCRS use only name/title Teresa Prosser Acting Regional Preservation Officer Ong 24,1981 GPO 938 835 Quadrangle name Fairborn city or town Dayton Xlocal Fed Nom or Request-Agency _ Determination of Eligiblity Photos 4 Check if Appropriate: State Staff State Request ior Review - Local - 2nd Return I. Evaluation of Resource (cont. on back if necessary) | Adequate 1. Descriptive Statement Short Format Yes_ No 2. Significance Statement 3.

Concepts/Integrity 4. Concepts/Criteria 5. Concepts/Boundaries 6. Contextual Evaluation General Comments (cont. on back if necessary): Good REJECT dnr-3 Comments Within: Nomination Name Site Structure Poor Thematic Group Object On Nomination Form Nomination prepared by: Federal Register Date Multiple Resource Area Bldg(s) Substantive Review Keeper's Decision to Review Maps / II. Evaluation of Nomination Mercer Accept 10/9/81 Action: Working Number Zother OCT 16 1981 SEP 4 Robert Millay 1978 Fairborn, Ohio Fairborn Historic Structures, Inc. THE MERCER LOG HOUSE Main facade, looking west Photo #1 TRES- PASSING SEP 4 OCT 16 1981 1978 Robert Millay Fairborn Historic Structures, Inc. Fairborn, Ohio Facade and north wall, looking SW THE MERCER LOG HOUSE Photo #2 1978 Fairborn Historic Structures, Inc.

North wall and rear, looking SE Robert Millay Fairborn, Ohio THE MERCER LOG HOUSE Photo #3 SEP 4 Fairficld: bull aboul 1800. SEP 4 12/80 Teresa Stebbins Fairborn, Ohio Regional Office 5HA MERCER LOG HOUSE Photo #4 S side and facade looking NW OCT 16 1981 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FAIRBORN QUADRANGLE 7.5 MINUTE SERIES (TOPOGRAPHIC) THE MERCER LOG HOUSE FAIRBORN, OHIO Talrborns Greene County 16/754290/4412170 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY May 5, 1981 Mr. David Simmons The Ohio Historical Society, Inc. I-71 & 17th Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43211 Dear Mr. Simmons: This is to advise that as the property owner, the City of Fairborn The log house was purchased by the City in 1975 as one of the The Fairborn Historic Structures, Inc. has undertaken the project National Register. If further information is needed, please advise. William W. Burns Ms. Teresa Prosser Fairborn Historic Structures, Inc.

44 W. Hebble Ave., Fairborn, Ohio 45324 (513) 879-1730 project. Sincerely, RECEIVED City Manager Montgomery County REGISTER NATIONAL local historic preservation. City of Fairborn Historical Soceity significant historic structures if not the oldest in our community. Ohio Historic Preservation Office It seems fitting that this structure deservesa nomination to the 47 North First Street to the National Register of Historic Places. of restoration of the Mercer Log House and recently has submitted is in support of the nomination for the Mercer Log House located at WWB:VC It is intended that the structure be restored and used as a museum reflecting the area's history and to encourage an awareness of Office of City Manager SEP 4 a fiscal year 1982 matching grant request to help accomplish this FAIRBORN, OH 45324 August 11, 1981 Mr. David Simmons The Ohio Historical Society, Inc.

I-71 and 17th Avenue Columbus, OH 43211 Dear Mr. Simmons: At the July, 1981 meeting of Fairborn Historic Structures, Inc., owners of the log house, the latter being Mr. T. J. Smith, who Please note that the Fairborn Historic Structures, Inc., which SEP 4 Sincerely, NATIONAL President Mary Lou Andes REGISTER Ohio Historic Preservation Office MLA:bm RECEIVED is responsible for the restoration of the log house has recently correctly identify the building involved. submitted a fiscal year 1982 matching grant request entitled and elected officials of the City of Fairborn and the approval The present property owner is the City of Fairborn. The name change was made with the approval of the City Manager House located at 47 North First Street to the Mercer-Smith Log has long encouraged historic preservation in our community. of the Ohio Regional Preservation Office in Dayton.

12 NORTH CENTRAL AVENUE the Board of Trusteesvoted to change the name of the Mercer Log House.This name change includes the first and last private OCT. |6 1981 DE» We Ray Luce Colunbus, Ohio 43211 Location Eady/ts/10.22.81 STATE Name Honorable Douglas Applegate Date Entered Jefferson County 272-3504 Interstate 7l at 17th Avenue Also Notified Greene County Honorable Howard M. Metzenbaum Snithfield ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER Midwest Region, NPS Honozable John Glenn State Historic Preservation Officer The Ohio Historical Society Honorable Clazence Brown For further information, please call the National Register at (202)343-6401. Mercer Log House Snithfield School OHIO