The Ridge

"The Ridge", located at 503 East 8th Street, Adams County, Ohio, is eligible for listing in the National Register under Criterion B for its association with the Ellison, and his son, Robert H. Ellison. Both gentlemen were prominent in the political, governmental and social history of Manchester, Ohio. They were active in the Republican Party, involved with community education, and the church, and devoted to public and private charities. Robert held both elected and appointed public offices. The Ellison family has occupied this landmark house for four generations, and they are well known for their many contributions to the growth of Adams County. The property is also eligible under Criterion C as an Intact example of transitional Greek Revival/Italianate residential architecture of which it is the only unmodified example existing in the village of Manchester. The Greek Revival features include bold simple molding on the outside and inside, unadorned friezes, flat plain stone lintels and lungs ills, a horizontal transom above the entrance, and the double-hung 6/6 and 6/9 windows. This vernacular interpretation of styles includes Italianate details such as the overhanging cornice with model lions, a hipped roof, and cast Iron fireplaces with arched openings.

William Ellison was born in Manchester, Ohio in 1796. He was one of eight surviving children of John Ellison, one of the pioneer surveyors who settled Manchester with Nathaniel Massey while surveying the Virginia Military District. William built "The Ridge" on the family property (Out Lot 25) for the handsome sum of $10,000.00. This was noted to Include outbuildings. His fortune came from his association with the early Iron Industry in Southern Ohio, and he was considered the wealthiest man in Adams County. During his occupancy of the house, this active Republican was a Delegate to the National Republican Convention at Philadelphia in 1856, the State Republican Convention (member Committee on Resolutions) in 1857, and again in 1864 went to the National Convention in Baltimore. He was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church contributing one-third of the minister's salary and one-half of his food plus making up any other church expenses. He was Superintendent of the Sabbath School.

Robert Hamilton Ellison, the only son of William, moved back into "The Ridge" in 1888 after the death of his mother, Mary Keyes Ellison. He was born in Manchester in 1845, and attended the local high school and then the Business College of Poughkeepsie, New York. His business interests included real estate, banking and farming. While occupying the house, he pursued his father's Interests in religious charities and education. He served on the Manchester Board of Education. His active Republican political career included the election to the Ohio Electoral College for the presidential election of Theodore Roosevelt. Robert served as the Delegate from the Tenth Ohio Congressional District to the Golden Jubilee Convention of the National Republican League in Philadelphia in 1906. He also was a Delegate to the Republican Congress in 1919. He was elected Auditor of Adams County in 1879, and his appointments included Postmaster of Manchester in 1910 and Manchester Township Food and Crops Commissioner in 1917. He was famous locally for his short horn cattle, Cotswold sheep and as a tobacco grower and dealer. In 1922, he was elected a member of the Burley Tobacco Growers Cooperative Association. His local society memberships Included the Knights of Phytheus, Odd Fellows, and Order of Red Men. The first military company in Adams County was called The Ellison Light Guards in honor of Robert. He died in the house in 1928. His obituary stated that he "gave of his time and money to anything that was calculated to be for the betterment of the community."
The next two generations of Ellisons, Francis Harris and Francis Harris, Jr., continued to occupy the house. They were involved in the political, business, civic and social life of southwestern Ohio. Of special note is the election of Francis, Sr. to three terms in the Ohio State House of Representatives. His bachelor son, Francis, Jr., lived his entire life at "The Ridge", managing the extensive family land holdings until his death in 1991. The house and entire contents have been purchased by Cornella M. Dettmer.

Within the village of Manchester, only two brick buildings of somewhat similar style remain. A small red brick house located at 4th and Pike Street has Greek Revival elements including plain stone lintels, plain frieze, rectangular brackets and 6/6 windows. It was recently donated to the Manchester Historical Society by the late Francis H. Ellison, Jr. The date of construction of the original house is unknown and the addition on one side is more ornate in the baseboards and moldings indicating the late 1800s. It had been divided Into rental apartments but is now undergoing restoration by the society. A second brick building, the Wilson Funeral Home, on 2nd Street dates from c. 1869 and has an L-shape rather than being rectangular. It has several modern additions to convert it to its present use. However, some Greek Revival elements remain on the front of the building such as the plain stone lintels, 6/6 hung windows, round porch columns with Doric capitals and cornice with rectangular brackets. Thus, the Ridge is the best-preserved example of Greek Revival architecture in Manchester.

The period of significance of the nominated property extends from the date of construction of the house in circa 1856, when William Ellison moved into the house, to the death of Willam Ellison in 1864 and from 1888, when Robert Ellison moved back to the house, to his death in 1928.

Both individuals were active in political and social humanitarian activities during their occupancy of the house.