Spring Valley in Greene County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

George Barrett Cement House

Poor Man's Home, Rich Man's Palace

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., December 6, 2009

1. George Barrett Cement House Marker

Inscription.
After his home was destroyed by fire, George Barrett decided to build a home that would survive another disaster. An article Barrett read by O.S. Fowler in New York described a new building material that used gravel, sand, and lime. Cement was a less expensive and more time efficient construction material than brick. Unable to get help from a mason, Barrett gathered the material and built the house himself. Completed in 1853, the house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

Erected 2003 by Ohio Bicentennial Commission, The Longaberger Company, Spring Valley Acts, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 12-29.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1853.

Location. 39° 36.54′ N, 84° 0.502′ W. Marker is in Spring Valley, Ohio, in Greene County. It is at the intersection of Main Street and Terrace Avenue, on the left when traveling east on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4 E Main Street, Spring Valley OH 45370, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Dayton Metro

and in the Miami Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other

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markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: You Are on the Buckeye Trail (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Historic Little Miami River (approx. 0.3 miles away); Spring Valley Township and Village Veterans Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Veterans Memorial (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named Veterans Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Spring Valley Wildlife Area (approx. 3.2 miles away); Unknown Union Soldier (approx. 4.1 miles away); Chester Township Veterans Memorial (approx. 4.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Spring Valley.

Also see . . . Spring Valley Heritage: The George Barrett Concrete House. Spring Area Valley Chamber of Commerce website entry (Submitted on July 3, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

George Barrett Cement House and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., December 6, 2009

2. George Barrett Cement House and Marker

George Barrett Cement House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., December 6, 2009

3. George Barrett Cement House

Photographed by Craig Doda, October 4, 2025

4. George Barrett Cement House Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 5, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,976 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 5, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 4. submitted on October 8, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio.