William Burnett House

William Burnett House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Site of the house, now occupied by a shopping center
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Location	1613 U.S. Route 62 SW., Washington Court House, Ohio
Coordinates	39°31′28″N83°27′30″W / 39.52444°N 83.45833°W / 39.52444; -83.45833
Area	1.9 acres (0.77 ha)
Built	1869 (1869)
Architectural style	Greek Revival, Italianate, I-house
NRHP reference No.	89000176 [1]
Added to NRHP	March 22, 1989

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.

Burnett

William 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

Burnett'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

In 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

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
2. Allen, Frank M., ed. History of Fayette County, Ohio: Her People, Industries, and Institutions. Indianapolis: Bowen, 1914, 123.
3. Owen, Lorrie K., ed. Dictionary of Ohio Historic Places. Vol. 1. St. Clair Shores: Somerset, 1999, 408-409.
4. Burnett, William, House, Ohio Historical Society, 2007. Accessed 2013-05-23.
5. Fayette County Comprehensive Use Strategy Plan Archived 2010-06-13 at the Wayback Machine , Fayette County, 2006, 13. Accessed 2013-05-23.