Nomination for the National Register of Historic Places
 

The HORACE PEASE HOMESTEAD is significant both architecturally as a Federal farm house representative of its era in its massing and detail trimming, and historically as the early Montgomery County home of a prominent local businessman and citizen. 

Horace Pease was born on February 14, 1791 in Suffield, Connecticut, the oldest of eleven children whose parents were Joseph Pease and Elizabeth Pierce.  In 1816, Horace Pease came to Ohio and went to Cincinnati to pursue his trade of making saddle-trees (def: frame of a saddle) which he continued to do until 1827.  His brother, Perry Pease, had during this time, been living near Hole’s Creek (a creek which runs across the north part of the nominated property’s lot) as a farmer and distiller.  In 1827, Horace joined his brother Perry, and together they purchased this property in 1829.  (Ann Stilz, who Horace Pease had married in 1821, died in 1829, leaving four children.  In 1832, he married Sarah Bellville of New Castle, Delaware; she died in 1862, leaving six children.)  Horace established a fruit distillery on Hole’s Creek, making peach and apple brandy.  In 1830, he took a lease on the water power of two locks at Carrollton with the view of getting water power for his flouring mill which he had also established and which, in 1832, is said to have been the largest business in Ohio.  In 1839, Horace Pease moved to Dayton where he built another flouring mill on the corner of East Third and Canal Street, and for thirty years and more the firm of H&P Pease, of which he was the head, conducted the largest milling and distilling business in the State.  He was a most active and enterprising businessman in his time and had many interests.  He was a director of the old State Bank from its organization until it merged into the Dayton National Bank, and of the latter he was a director until the time of his death.  He represented Montgomery County in the legislature for a number of years, and served on the Board of County Commissioners, being a member when the Old Courthouse (which is on the National Register of Historic Places) was erected, the designs of which he made himself.  The first locomotive that steamed into Dayton, on the Xenia and Belpre traces, was named the “Horace Pease,” he having been, with Joseph Clegg, most active in the establishment of that road.  In 1849, the Buckeye Iron and Brass Works was founded, a then solid manufacturing enterprise in Dayton (remnants of their work may still be found in beautiful ornate mid-Victorian fencing.)  Horace Pease retired from active business in 1854, and passed away in 1875.  The HORACE PEASE HOMESTEAD remained in the family until 1889. 

After a period of short-term owners, the house re-entered the family in 1922 when Helen Clegg Winters, a granddaughter of Horace Pease and the wife of Valentine Winters II, a prominent banker, bought the property and restored and enlarged the home with a great deal of sensitivity, authenticity, and good taste.  Both inside and out, the house works incredibly well as an integrated unit.  Helen Clegg Winters died in 1938 after which time the present owner bought the property. 

Both architecturally and historically, the HORACE PEASE HOMESTEAD is significant and eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. 

The HORACE PEASE HOMESTEAD, while not the last Federal structure in Washington Township, is one of the most outstanding examples of Federal architecture in the area.  In excellent original condition, the main structure forms the nucleus for an entire and virtually unchanged farm complex of the early 1830’s.  While the acreage is less than what there was originally, the HORACE PEASE HOMESTEAD exists as an impressive and important representative of its time. 

Horace Pease, while not a long-time resident of the homestead, was its builder.  As the prominent figure head of the family, it was through Horace that the Pease family name became influential and respected in Montgomery County.  Although it has been impossible to determine who lived at the homestead after Horace moved to Dayton in 1839, the property remained in the family until 1889 and was most probably used by the family as Perry Pease and his family lived in Carrollton.  Horace Pease made frequent trips to Carrollton since he continued his flouring mills there until 1853.

End of nomination

 


Read the nomination here

This site created and maintained by Mark Langdon for personal use and no information is warranted or guaranteed for accuracy.