206 East Pleasant Street (house), Springfield

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS OHIO,12-SPRIF,12-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

The house is an unusual example of late Italianate style architecture and is distinguished by its projecting center section with pedimented attic level plus its symmetrical front elevation. The house is part of a cluster of older residences along this street and has its basic form intact. Description: This is a two-story frame L-shaped residence that rests on a low foundation of stone. Its exterior is covered with drop siding and the building is capped by a low-pitched hipped roof with built-in gutters and broad flaring eaves. The front elevation, which actually faces onto Spring is symmetrical and features a slightly projecting center section containing the main entrance at its base and a pair of long windows above.

On-site evidence suggests that this house may originally have had a small entrance porch with balcony above and the pair of windows may have been a set of French doors. Long rectangular windows flank this center section on both floors. The building has a gabled rear wing that is two stories plus an attic in height but whose cornice line is lower than that of the main building. Of particular interest on the exterior is the pediment surmounting the projecting center section in front. This has an elegantly dentilled cornice with returns. A small round attic window accents its center. The south elevation, facing Pleasant also has a projecting pedimented center section. Two asymmetrically arranged chimneys are in the front section and a third chimney is in the center of the rear wing.

History: James Johnson was listed in the Springfield city directory in boldface type as the Postmaster of the city. His residence was at 18 East Mulberry Street. In J. S. a plumber whose business was located at 90 Scott took out a permit to connect a new house up to the city's water lines. James Johnson was listed as the owner. Because James Johnson lived at another address in it seems likely that he was the developer of this property, who either sold or rented it. It is likely that the James Johnson who was involved with this property was also the city's postmaster, since there was no other individual by that name listed in the city directories during this period.

Johnson must have been a prominent individual, who had achieved a level of distinction enabling him to secure appointment as postmaster for this important community. This house seems older than making it likely that the house was built first without indoor plumbing and that as other houses were built up around it and water service became available, the permit was taken out as documented in city records. It was probably also a single-family residence when first constructed. The house was probably made into a double shortly after the tum of the century, by By this was the residence of Charles W. and Malvina McGaw. He was manager of the cloak and suit department at 42 S. Limestone St. It was also home to A E. and Julia Moon.

He was foreman of the metal pressing room of the Springfield Metallic Casket Company. By the house had different tenants but seems to have contained two households until the 206 E. PLEASANT page 2 BABS No. OH-2432

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS OHIO,12-SPRIF,12-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

and Springfield city directories, Springfield city water tap records The building stands within a proposed Champion Historic District, which has been determined as an area potentially eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places by the Ohio State Historic Officer. Copies of information used to make this determination of eligibility for National Register status are at the Springfield Department of Planning and Development and the Ohio Historic Preservation Office.