Nomination for Seip House

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

United States Department of the Interior Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms Type all entries - complete applicable sections street & number - not for publication city, town - vicinity of - county code 141 _ state - district X public X occupied .museum X building(s) - private . commercial - park .structure .both - work in progress - private residence Public Acquisition _ religious in process - yes: unrestricted - government 4. Owner of Property State of Ohio,Department of Natural Resources has this property been determined elegible? - yes x no - federal - local depository for survey records entertainment transportation Accessible Category 6. Representation in Existing Surveys date Ownership National Register of Historic Places object Status site Columbus educational 3.

Classification agriculture Inventory-Nomination Form industrial title 6th historic Chillicothe Ohio other: code military congressional district being considered 2. Location scientific Ross County Courthouse 1. Name 5. Location of Legal Description Seip House Present Use For HCRS use only Ohio 43224 FHR8300 (11-78) received APR 9 345 Allen Avenue Ross Ohio 45601 7. Description X excellent X unaltered X original site the State of Ohio Department of Natural Resources since 1953. The house is basically square in plan, 2 1/2 stories high with a central hip roof. The house is brick laid in The original red slate roof, with its rectangular and hexagonal slates, and red metal cresting and flashing, is still intact. Chimneys have corbelled caps, and the roofline is further accentuated by 2 pedimented gabled dormers. The one on the facade The dormer on the west side contains a pair of 1/1 windows.

The cornice is boxed, with small rectangular brackets, and dentils on the otherwise plain frieze. topped by a stone balustrade, a round 4-window bay on the east side, and a polygonal bay on the west side. The visual liveliness is further accentuated by a variety of glass panel above, and trimmed with segmental red sandstone label. Tower windows are single, 1/1, with stained glass transom panel, and stone belt course forming a continuous lintel. Windows on the west side are similar, but have both round and segmental stone arched lintels with keystones. The coursed, light-colored, rock-faced ashlar foundation contrasts with the belt courses and window trim. The contrasting colors of stone are used again on the front veranda porch, which has a stone base supporting round wooden classical columns set in pairs.

The house also has 2 small frame porches at the rear, one with turned Eastlake porchposts, the othèr with small The interior of the Seip House has been modified somewhat to accomodate offices-- fireplaces were closed and mantels removed, some doorways altered, and upper portions of the 2 stairways enclosed --but most of the original fabric has been left intact. The elaborate parquet floors have a different inlay in each of the main rooms downstairs. All woodwork is quarter-sawn oak, with baseboards, door and window frames left intact. Probably the most striking feature of the house is the main stairway, with its paneled oak wainscoting, intricate railing and the richly carved newel posts. Another handsome feature is the large round-arch stained glass window at the stairway landing. Woodwork of the backstairs, kitchen, and back bedrooms is less elaborate "bull's-eye" type.

All interior doors have working transoms. The main entrance consists oi double wooden interior wooden shutters which slide up from the bottom, inside, below the sash, rather Also included within the nominated area is a small garage at the rear of the lot which appears to have been built ca. 1920. It is rectangular, 22' x 30', of faced concrete blocks with a hip roof, shed dormer, and wide overhanging eaves. The lot that both structures lie on is large and shaded by several tall old trees. Condition date moved unexposed deteriorated the house retains one very unusual feature--all windows (except those in the attic) have round classical columns. Check one has a semi-circular attic vent and central 1/l windows with 2 smaller flanking windows. Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

doors, small tiled foyer, and anothervof double doors with beveled glass windows. Finally, window treatments. Windows at the facade are in pairs of 1/l with common stained than closing from both sides. -fair The Seip House is a Queen Anne residence which has been used as offices by stretcher bond, and with a foundation of and trimmed in coursed sandstone. The exterior of the Seip House is marked by a central round bay at the facade ruins 8.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance Areas of Significance-Check and justify below - prehistoric _ archeology-prehistoric - community planning landscape architecture _ religion - archeology-historic _ conservation . sculpture X architecture .military .social/ . music _ 1800-1899 - philosophy _ theater _ industry - politics/government . transportation other (specify) John Cook, builder Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

(in one paragraph) The Seip House is significant primarily for its excellent Queen Anne architecture and for its historical association with the Seip family. The house is a fine example of Queen Anne styling and typifies the excellent buildings being erected in Chillicothe in that time period. Other Queen Anne houses still exist, but this was one of the grandest and remains one of the best preserved. As mentioned above, further significance is derived from the house's association with the Seip family. Charles Seip, who had the house built when he was nearing 80 years of age, was a butcher who came from Germany in 1845. By 1853 he was settled in Chillicothe, married, and had begun his own business on this site. The business prospered, finally moving into the commercial district on West Water Street, and Mr.

Seip was able to acquire nearby farmland, enough that at his death in 1902 he owned seven farms. His son, to a descendent of the family, it was John who talked his father into building this house and through his constant enlargement and alterations of the plans, caused cons- truction to drag on over three years and the finished product to cost over $40,000. John Seip was an enthusiastic amateur archaeologist and historian, and an early member of the Ohio Historical Society. He later donated to the Society his artifact collection and 10 acres of land upon which Seip Mound, a National Register property, lies. John business and a hat store. But it wasvo farge and mainly unsuccessful venture, The Carolina Land and Lumber Company, that he finally lost the major portion of the family fortune.

Of the six Seip children, only one married; the others lived together in this house until 1952 when Miss Elizabeth Seip, the last remaining, died, and the State of Ohio acquired the house for its District Five offices. 1700-1799 1600-1699 commerce economics 1400-1499 1500-1599 communications engineering art invention literature Builder/Architect exploration/settlement humanitarian education Period science law agriculture 1900- John, was a well-traveled, colorful, and somewhat eccentric personality. According Seip was involved in several local business enterprises, including a wholesale shoe 1895-98 Specific dates Chillicothe Gazette, Dec. 30, 1952. Interview with Ms. Mary Ann Schlegel, Chillicothe, June 19, 1980. UMT References of the Subdivision of Outlot 1 of Bonser and Barman's Addition, as recorded in the Deed Record of Ross County, Vol. 274, page 568. ._state Lois J.

Rock, Regional Preservation Officer Regional Preservation Office street & number 940 Second Street (614) 353-7157 city or town Ohio 45662 The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: . national 665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated State Historic Preservation Officer signature code 8/5/80 organization county date Northing Easting 11.

The rest of the file

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

Form Prepared By name/title Zone telephone 9. Major Bibliographical References Portsmouth Attest: 10. Geographical Data 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification Quadrangle name Chillicothe East List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries Chief of Registration Keeper of the National Register Shawnee State Community College For HCRS use only National Register date Acreage of nominated property less than one Verbal boundary description and justification 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 GPO 938 835 The nominated property occupies lots 1, 2, and 3 3/30 Photos - ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN REVIEW UNIT CHIEF BRANCH CHIEF National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry OTHER HAER KEEPER Inventory ARCHEOLOGIST Entered CONTROL Send-back TECHNICAL Re-submit Maps Review HISTORIAN Property United States Department of the Interior-Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service 2.2.82 Working Number 1. Seip House 2. 345 Allen Ave., Chillicothe, Ross County, 3. Richard Leister APR 9 4. 6/80 5. Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources, Dist. 5 Chillicothe, Ohio 6. Facade & west side; camera facing NE 7. #1 of 6 Ohio 1. Seip House 2. 345 Allen Ave., Chillicothe, Ross County, 3. Richard Leister 4. 6/80 5. Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources, Dist. 5 Chillicothe, Ohio MAY | 2 1981 6.

Facade; camera facing N APR 9 7. #2 of 6 Ohio 1. Seip House 2. 345 Allen Ave., Chillicothe, Ross APR 9 MAY | 2 1981 3. Richard Leister 4. 6/80 5. Ohio Dept. Of Natural Resources, Dist. 5 Hdqtrs., Chillicothe, Ohio 6. Rear of house; camera facing S 7. #3 of 6 County, Ohio 1. Seip House 2. 345 Allen Ave., Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio 3. Richard Leister APR 9 4. 6/80 5. Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources, Dist. 5 Chillicothe, Ohio 6. East side & rear of House; camera 7. #4 of 6 facing SW 1. Seip House 2. 345 Allen Ave., Chillicothe, Ross County, 3. Richard Leister 4. 6/80 5. Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources, Dist. 5 Hdatrs., Chillicothe, Ohio 6. Interior, front hall stairway 7. #5 of 6 APR 1981 Ohio MAY 12 1981 1. Seip House 2. 345 Allen Ave., Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio 3. Richard Leister 4. 6/80 5. Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources, Dist. 5 Chillicothe, Ohio 6.

Interior, stairway light MAY | 2 1981 APR CHILLICOTHE FAST. OHIO MAY 1 2 I981 4356380 CHILLICOTHE EAST QUADRANGLE 7.5 MINUTE SERIES (TOPOGRAPHIC) DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Chillicothe, Ross 328200 UNITED STATES ROAD CLASSIFICATION DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Northing: Mapped, edited, and published by the Geological Survey Seip House STATE OF OHIO County, Ohio N3915-W82525/1 ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE OHIO Chil1icothe Lake Central Region, HCRS Location Name Eady/bjr/5/14/81 Honorable Bob McEwen Date Entered Honorable John Glenn Ross County Also Notified State Historic Preservation Officer 1982 Velma Avenue Seip House Ohio Historical Society Honorable Howard M. Metzenbaum For further information, please call the National Register at (202)343-6401. Mr. W. Ray Luce Columbus, Ohio 43211 OHIO