Young-Shaw House

The Young-Shaw House is a historic house located near Sarahsville, Ohio on State Route 146. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 8, 1980.^[1] Jean Shaw, the great granddaughter-in-law of Tobias Shaw and Henry Young submitted the proof and the house still stands. It is also listed in Historical places on the Noble County, Ohio, website. The Young-Shaw House was accepted into the National Register of Historic Places for its association with Henry Young, who was the principal tobacco processor in Center Township, and who was also one of the organizers of the Fredericksdale United Bretheran Church. Young (1809 - 1890) came to Ohio from Rhode Island in 1825. In 1846 he settled on Section 17 of Center Township, Noble County, Ohio, and built a house near the site of the Young-Shaw House. This earlier structure was occupied until the new house was built. Young became a leading tobacco farmer in the county, and eventually engaged in packing and shipping tobacco - his own as well as the crop of other farmers in the area. A devout Methodist, he was a preacher and later was instrumental in the organization of the local United Bretheran church, located about one-half mile east of the home. As Young's business grew, he felt the need of a house which better reflected his position. He hired Tobias Shaw, a Senecaville builder, to construct the new structure. Shaw brought with him his son, Manual, to help with the construction. During the time the house was being built, Manual met and courted Henry Young's daughter, Caroline. Descendents of Manual and Caroline Young Shaw have owned the property since the time of its construction. The Young-Shaw House is a 2 1/2 story wood frame structure of balloon frame construction, sheathed with beveled siding. It measures 27' x 42' and has no additions. The facade features a 5-bay configuration with the main door centered on this elevation. This doorway is a handsome feature of the house, although it is somewhat deteriorated at the present. It is a trabeated doorway with a transom and sidelights which are separated from the door by single, unadorned pilasters. Originally, an extremely handsome 1-story portico with a second story porch shielded this main entryway. An historic photo shows this portico to be supported by paired attenuated pillars which correspond to the pilasters which are used to trim the doorway. This portico was removed by Earl Shaw, grandson of Tobias Shaw, shortly after his return from World War I. He built a one-story open porch which stretched across the entire facade. Fenestration on the Young-Shaw House features double-hung sash set in plain casings. The sash on the facade is 2/2; that on the rear is 6/6. Originally external louvered shutters were used on all windows. The house originally had its soffits trimmed with small brackets which are no longer in place. The gable ends feature a cornice with a partial return and pedimental attic-height windows flanking the inset chimneys. The roof is moderate pitch and is slate-covered. The only remaining porch is a 1-story shed roof porch which shields the interior bays of the 5-bay rear (north)elevation. The interior features a modified two-over-two plan with a central hallway. The hallway is distinguished by a fine open-string stair with a walnut balustrade. The original wood work is generally intact, including the doors and cupboards which were made by Manual Shaw.. There is a center-driveway corn crib (built c. 1920) which has been restored, which is located northeast of the house and a smoke house. Northwest of the house is a stone quarry, from which was gathered the stone for the foundation and fireplaces. The house and crib stand on a steep hillside overlooking the State Route 146 with a spacious view of the bottom land and Buffalo Creek to the south.

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