Richards House

Upper Arlington (formerly Perry Township), Franklin County, Ohio

I don't know this home's exact age. One source claims a construction date of 1814, while others provide dates as late as the 1850s. Regardless, it remains a good example of the fine limestone residences that dotted the Scioto River valley.

Built by a member of the Richards family, the structure was sold to the City of Columbus in 1904 for use as the Griggs Dam caretaker's house. By the late 1990s, the house stood in a state of disrepair; vandals and ill-conceived renovations had essentially destroyed the interior. A 2007 stabilization project improved the building's fortunes a bit, but its future is still quite bleak.

East elevation. The roof collapsed in a recent snowstorm.

West (river) elevation.

The pre-2007 cornice did not feature returns. I rather like the way they look, though.

A view of the Scioto River, from the home's northwest corner. The river wouldn't have been quite so wide when the land served as a farm. Still, it's a very scenic locale.

One last photo. In my opinion, topographic relief is always a good thing.