Watt–Groce–Fickhardt House

The Watt–Groce–Fickhardt House is a historic house in Circleville, Ohio, United States. Located along Main Street on the city's eastern side,[1] it is a distinctive landmark and has been named a historic site.

Watt–Groce–Fickhardt House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Front of the house
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Location	360 E. Main St., Circleville, Ohio
Coordinates	39°36′0″N 82°56′20″W
Area	0.3 acres (0.12 ha)
Built	1826
Architectural style	I-house
NRHP reference No.	85001804[1]
Added to NRHP	August 23, 1985

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;[2] two stories high, it is a brick structure with a stone foundation and a metal roof.[3] When completed, it was a typical hall and parlor house.[2]

Front and side of the 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.[2]

Today, the Watt–Groce–Fickhardt House remains a well-preserved example of antebellum architecture.[2] In 1985, the house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places,[1] 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.[3]