The Lathrop House at  5362 S. Main St. in Sylvania, Ohio is one of the oldest documentable residential structures in Lucas County, and certainly in Sylvania.  In actuality, this structure likely was remodeled into a larger dwelling, utilizing a smaller home already on the site.  What may be the original house, built c. 1835 by Elkanah and Eliza Briggs, consists of a one and one-half story, upright and wing structure that faced Main Street, and now stands at the rear of the house where the kitchen and den are located.  Attached to the west facade of this earlier portion is a two story frame section, erected about 1850 by the Lucian Lathrop family; this larger wing faces north.

The house unit is entirely timber-framed in construction, combining elements of  post and beam construction with the new system of lighter, dimensional lumber known as balloon framing.  The merging of these two forms resulted in a construction method known as the braced frame, which is evident in both sections of the Lathrop House.  Here the main framing of the house consists of hand-hewn, squared timbers serving as the main corner and roof supports, with smaller 2 x 4 inch, 2 x 6 inch, etc. lumber serving as wall and floor joists.  Wide sheathing boards can be found in the attic and rounded logs, flattened on top, were also be used as floor and roof  joists. Such logs, some with bark still attached, can be seen in the basement of the two story front portion.  This is typical for the first generation of homes built in this area, and follows the era of the log cabin which utilized logs exclusively.

The Lathrop House exhibits numerous architectural details of the Greek Revival style which gained popularity in America following the turn of the 18th century.  This was the first true architectural style associated with the new republic.  Evident are wide frieze boards at the roofline, and eave returns running off these at the corners.  The main entry, facing north, displays the typical door surround with glazed sidelight and transom, fluted pilasters flanking the door and sidelights, and a classically-inspired entablature above.  The graceful semi-elliptical fanlight in the apex of the main gable is a carryover from the Federal Style that was popular throughout the east cost during the Colonial era.  Original windows located in the rear of the first portion contain early nine-over-six, double hung window sash, an arrangement found only on the earliest homes in NW Ohio.

Architecturally, this house is a remarkable survivor from an era in American history that has largely disappeared from Sylvania.  Its unique construction and period details mark it as one of this community's most intact pre-Civil War structures.
 

Prepared by:  Ted J Ligibel, Ph.D.
Sylvania, Ohio
November 11, 2001

(Special thanks to Joy Armstrong and Gaye Gindy for supporting information.)