The William Burnett House was a historic farmhouse located near the city of Washington Court House in Fayette County, Ohio, United States. Constructed in the nineteenth century, it was once a masterpiece of multiple architectural styles, and it was designated a historic site because of its architectural distinction.
William Burnett House | |
 Site of the house, now occupied by a shopping center | |
   | |
| Location | 1613 U.S. Route 62 SW., Washington Court House, Ohio |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 39°31′28″N 83°27′30″W / 39.52444°N 83.45833°W |
| Area | 1.9 acres (0.77 ha) |
| Built | 1869 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Italianate, I-house |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000176[1] |
| Added to NRHP | March 22, 1989 |
Burnett
editWilliam Burnett was a prominent Union Township resident in the middle of the 19th century: an 1850 publication recorded him as serving as a constable for the township and as a marshal for the village of Washington Court House. Six years later, he was elected to a five-year term as the county sheriff for Fayette County.[2] In addition to his law enforcement duties, Burnett operated a farm on the Leesburg Road southwest of Washington Courthouse;[3] here he built a new house in 1869.[1]
Architecture
editBurnett's house was built with brick walls and foundation, a metal roof, and elements of wood.[4] Five bays wide, it featured an unusual combination of architectural styles: the basic floor plan was that of an I-house, but unlike most I-houses, it was constructed with high-style features common to the Greek Revival and Italianate styles of architecture.[3] Some of the most prominent components of the house's design were the pairs of brackets placed above the hooded windows to support the large cornice; these Italianate elements were supplemented by Greek pieces such as the glass around the main entrance, which featured a lintel, sidelights, and a transom light. Together, the Greek and Italianate elements served to distinguish Burnett's residence from the typical I-house, which was a thoroughly vernacular structure.[3]
Preservation
editIn early 1989, the Burnett House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, qualifying because of its historically significant architecture.[1] Despite this designation, the house was destroyed by 2006,[5] but it remains listed on the Register.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ Allen, Frank M., ed. History of Fayette County, Ohio: Her People, Industries, and Institutions. Indianapolis: Bowen, 1914, 123.
- ^ a b c Owen, Lorrie K., ed. Dictionary of Ohio Historic Places. Vol. 1. St. Clair Shores: Somerset, 1999, 408-409.
- ^ Burnett, William, House, Ohio Historical Society, 2007. Accessed 2013-05-23.
- ^ Fayette County Comprehensive Use Strategy Plan Archived 2010-06-13 at the Wayback Machine, Fayette County, 2006, 13. Accessed 2013-05-23.