A look at the sites in Ross County on the National Register of Historic Places
CHILLICOTHE — All around the country there are tens of thousands of locations listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In fact, almost every county in every state has at least one building listed on the register. Ross County is no exception with over 40 places listed on the registry.
These places are broken up into several categories including, site, structure, building and district. While many sites are open to the public several are also restricted with no address listed as the register works with both public and private entities to protect historic resources.
Since 1966 the register has been locating and evaluating locations worthy of protection. Those who qualify must meet several requirements including age, significance and integrity.
Structures in Ross County
The Austin Brown Mound was added to the register in 1974 and has prehistoric state significance. The mound, also known as the Dwight Fullerton Mound, was excavated in the 1890s and is said to be one of the larger Adena mounds in the area.
The Story Mound State Memorial is located at the junction of Cherokee and Delano Streets in Chillicothe. The mound, which was added to the register in 1973, is of prehistoric state significance. The National Archives Catalog states that this mound is over 19 feet high with a diameter of over 95 feet at the base, before an excavation in 1897 the mound was said to stand 25 feet tall.
Other structures in Ross County on the National Register of Historic Places include the Adena Mound, Cedar-Bank Works, Kinzer Mound, South Salem Covered Bridge and David Stitt Mound.
Sites in Ross County
The Hopewell Mound Group was added to the register in 1974 and is of prehistoric national significance. The entirety of this site spans nearly 130 acres and includes 29 burial mounds. This site was a sacred space for the Hopewell culture. Several archaeological expeditions found information on the site while also leaving it damaged.
Other sites in Ross County on the National Register of Historic Places include the Frankfort Works Mound, Howard Baum Site, T.C. Campbell Mound, Gartner Mound and Village Site, High Banks Works, Hopeton Earthworks and Spruce Hill Works
Buildings in Ross County
The Adena Mansion was added to the register in 1970 and is of national architectural and political significance. The house, which belonged to Thomas Worthington is made of locally quarried stone and has been open to the public as a museum for many years.
Tanglewood was added to the register in 1979 and is of local architectural significance. The historic house was built in 1850 and, according to the National Archives Catalog, it is a great example of the Greek Revival architecture style. During the time of the Underground Railroad runaway slaves were also said to have been hidden in this house.
The Dr. John Harris Dental Museum in Bainbridge was added to the register in 1973 and is of state educational significance. The museum is on the site of the very first dentistry school in America, which was originally founded in 1872.
Other buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Ross County include the Administration Building-United States Industrial Reformatory, Levi Anderson House, Buchwalter House-Applethorpe Farm, Canal Warehouse, Chillicothe Water And Power Company Pumping Station, Higby House, Highbank Farm, Henry Mace House, Mary Worthington Macomb House, McCafferty Run Farmstead, Mountain House, Oak Hill, Renick House, Seip House, South Salem Academy, Vanmeter Church Street House, Anthony, and Susan Cardinal Walke House and Wesley Chapel.
Districts in Ross County
Grandview Cemetery was added to the register in 1978 and is of state development and social history significance. The resting spot for hundreds of people and veterans from the area, including the founders of Ohio, shows influences of the Gothic Revival, Greek Revival and Romanesque craftwork.
Other districts on the National Register of Historic Places for Ross County include the Chillicothe Business District, Chillicothe Veterans Administration Hospital, Chillicothe's Old Residential District, Great Seal Park Archeological District Charles Metzger Mound, Mound City Group National Monument and Seip Earthworks and Dill Mounds District
Shelby Reeves is a reporter for the Chillicothe Gazette. You can email her at SReeves@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @Shelby_Reeves_
This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: A look at local sites on the National Register of Historic Places
