56 East Washington Street

The original section of this house was apparently built by Robert Perry in 1856 for resale. Perry bought the property from Nelson Washington and Phidelia A. Clark in 1856 for $56.00. A year later he sold the property to Oscar A. and Emily E. Frazer for $600.00. The tax records of that year specifically cited a "dwelling house". The footprint of the original L-shaped house appeared on the 1872 Map of the Village when Samuel was the owner. The L-shape footprint is typical of the Midwestern adaptation of the Greek Revival style and common to many of the early houses in the Village. These houses had a one & 1/2 or two story section with a single story wing or "ell". Demerest/Demarestbought the house for $1,500 and sold it nine years later for $3,721 indicating improvements or additions to the house. While the house was substantially remodeled in the 1960s some of the original Greek Revival details may be seen. The original wood clapboard is visible on the one & 1/2 story section which also has the broken pediment entablature typical of the style. The front entrance porch was a part of the remodeling, as is the picture window on the single story wing and the attached garage. At the time an addition was also constructed to the rear of the house.