Ditto-Prewitt House

The Ditto-Prewitt House, at 306 Elm St. in West Point, Kentucky, is a historic house built in 1826. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.[1]

Ditto-Prewitt House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	306 Elm St., West Point, Kentucky
Coordinates	37°59′58″N 85°56′47″W
Area	less than one acre
Built	1826
Architectural style	Central passage plan
MPS	Hardin County MRA
NRHP reference No.	88001786[1]
Added to NRHP	October 4, 1988

It is a two-story brick central passage plan five-bay house. In c.1960 a one-story porch with wrought-iron posts was added.[2]

It was deemed "notable for its role in the commercial history of West Point and as a center for military operations during the Civil War. The house was built in 1826 for Abraham Ditto, a prominent West Point merchant, and his brother-dn-law, Samuel Lansdale. They had the house built, as an inn to supply lodging for Ohio River travellers. West Point was a major port along the Ohio River in the 19th century and it was one of several inns supplying overnight lodging along the river. The inn was built on the bluff overlooking the river and was operated by Ditto for several years. Later Ditto made the building his residence. During the Civil War, the house was used for three years as a military hospital and as a base hospital for the 9th Michigan Infantry. After the Civil War the house was purchased by Thomas Reed who used the building as a hotel. Known as the Reed Place, the hotel was in operation until the early 1900s. The property was purchased about 1905 by Dr. J.V. Prewitt who used the building as his residence and doctor's office. The building is presently used as a boarding house. The house was heavily damaged in the flood of 1937 but its essential form and original plan remain."[2][3]

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
2. Philip Thomason (December 2, 1986). "Historic Resources of Hardin County: Ditto-Prewitt House / Prewitt House;HDWP-5stubs". National Park Service. Retrieved March 22, 2018. With four photos from 1983-88.
3. Philip Thomason (December 2, 1986). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Hardin County Multiple Resource Area - Partial Inventory". National Park Service. Retrieved March 23, 2018.