Watt-Groce-Fickhardt House
Circleville was platted in 1810 on a farm owned by Jacob Ziegler and Samuel Watt; later in the year, Ziegler sold his interest in the farm to Watt. With the community's rapid expansion, Watt sold more land; by 1820, only 148 acres (60 ha) remained in his ownership. Using the money from the land sales, Watt built a new farmhouse in 1826; two stories high, it is a brick structure with a stone foundation and a metal roof. When completed, it was a typical hall and parlor house.
As Circleville continued to grow, Watt sold most of his remaining land in 1835; only 5 acres (2.0 ha) remained after the end of that year. Becoming a leading local businessman, he made an extensive addition to the house in 1852; this new structure took the form of an I-house. A smaller addition, built in 1885, is a frame structure attached to the original portion of the house.
Today, the Watt–Groce–Fickhardt House remains a well-preserved example of antebellum architecture. In 1985, the house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, qualifying because of its historic architecture and because of its connection to a later resident, John G. Groce, who was a leading member of local society.
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^ Owen, Lorrie K., ed. Dictionary of Ohio Historic Places. Vol. 2. St. Clair Shores: Somerset, 1999, 1152.
- ^ Watt–Groce–Fickhardt House, Ohio Historical Society, 2007. Accessed 2010-09-16.