Rare 218-Year-Old Stone Cottage in Ohio With Original Fireplaces and Hardwood Details Lists for Very First Time

A beautifully restored 1808 limestone home that has never before been listed has come to the market in Ohio for just $275,000—replete with original design details that date more than two centuries.

It is a "home where generations of life still echo through the walls," according to Vikki Lynch, whose family has decided to sell the limestone cottage after owning it for more than 70 years—having taken over stewardship of the dwelling from its former residents.

"It has never been for sale to the public. It’s never been listed on the MLS," explains Laura Ryan, who worked on the listing with her husband, Mark Ryan with the Mark Ryan Group & Re/Max Victory + Affiliates. She adds that it had always been passed on to family members or transferred to friends.

Throughout the home's 218-year history, each owner carefully turned the page to a new, unique chapter in its story, one that begins in 1808, when a considerably smaller version of the home was first built.

Stonemason Joseph Tice took over the property in 1834 and expanded the home, laying each stone by hand. Many of the original limestone walls are still intact, as are the deep-set windows and an original fireplace.

"The workmanship and craftsmanship that is still intact is amazing," Lauren Ryan notes.

Other original details that remain include the front door and its unique knocker, a square head nail protruding from a limestone wall, refurbished 20-pane windows, and a tight-winder wooden staircase leading to the upstairs bedroom, believed to have been added by Tice.

Some of the light fixtures and the kitchen sink are also believed to have historical value.

"Inside, centuries-old limestone walls, deep-set windows, original architectural details, and intimate gathering spaces create an atmosphere that is both refined and deeply rooted in history," the listing reveals.

Through the years, the home was updated for modern livability, including the addition of plumbing, electricity, heating and cooling, appliances, and more. In 1974, the home was expanded again with a new wing to create a U-shaped home with a stone courtyard in the center.

That addition included a large great room with a unique wood-burning, used-brick fireplace that seems as if it could have been there from the beginning. The addition also includes another bathroom/laundry area and a primary bedroom.

Today, the home measures 2,106 square feet, with two bedrooms and two baths. While some buyers may want to do a little updating, it's perfectly livable as is, just as it has been for centuries.

"Constructed of original limestone and carefully preserved through generations, the home showcases the enduring quality and architectural integrity rarely found today," the listing notes.

It sits on a well-tended 9,670-square-foot lot with a stone courtyard, a lush green lawn, mature trees and foliage, and a quaint pergola with built-in wood benches. As a bonus, there's a sizable barn out back that could be used for storage, as a garage, or both.

While the home's charming courtyard and gardens, historic textures, and well-preserved craftsmanship evoke the feeling of a remote, European stone cottage, the home sits in the heart of lively Uptown Centerville and is within walking distance of local shops, restaurants, and community events.

Ryan adds that the historical neighborhood plays a big part in local seasonal celebrations.

The home is a well-known part of the fabric of the community, with one former resident, a prominent attorney by the name of Clarence W. Magsig, having a middle school named after him. The school is still in operation today.

"This home still has great importance to the community," Ryan explains.

"Just the feeling you get when you walk into it," she says of the enduring spirit and integrity of the families that have lived there for generations.

With such a fascinating history—and impressive local profile—it is perhaps unsurprising that the dwelling went under contract within days. The listing shows that the home is pending sale, although the deal has yet to close.

It is proof that it doesn't take elaborate staging, fancy amenities, or a posh location to sell a home quickly. All that was needed to sell this dwelling was good bones and a great story.

Or perhaps it was that the asking price was quite reasonable by almost any standard.

The historic home was listed for $275,000, well below the median sale price of $335,000 to $340,000 in Centerville, OH, or the median listing price, which ranges from $370,000 to $420,000.

The first open house was held on May 28, and another on May 31. Offers began pouring in on June 1, and before the day was done, one was accepted.

Located in the heart of Centerville, a thriving town not far from Dayton, with two hospitals, a highly ranked school district, all the stores and conveniences of most thriving towns in America, and the largest collection of early stone houses in the state.

In fact, this home is located within Centerville's Architectural Preservation District and is listed on the Historic Homes Registry.

A home that blends authentic early-American craftsmanship with timeless character and modern livability doesn't come along every day—not even once in a generation, apparently. Perhaps that's what enabled the property to be whisked off the market in less than a week.