About This House
This 3,000-square-foot house was built in 1812 for prominent local merchant John Field and his wife, Martisha. A pioneer settler and local powerhouse, John was a city trustee and the county’s first postmaster. In the early 1820s, suffering a financial reversal, the Fields rented a second-floor room to Jane and John Marshall Clemens. The newlywed couple lived there for a year; later, in 1835, they became parents to Samuel Langhorne Clemens, who eventually gained renown as author Mark Twain.
Why Save It?
The house retains significant Federal-style elements that make it one of, the most architecturally important houses in the area. Its main staircase, doors, paneled jambs, baseboards, chair rails, and yellow-poplar floors remain. The original front entry’s fanlight also survives, as do triple-thick walls, made from bricks fired near the site. Considered the finest of three surviving Federal-era homes in town, the house sits on over half an acre, a few blocks from the public square. The city has a small-town feel, and its two major lakes offer myriad water sports, making it a desirable vacation spot.
What it Needs
While the structure remains solid, the removal of a later rear addition has left bricks in need of repair and repointing. Inside, the house needs a kitchen, and a new owner will likely want to install a second-floor bath. Some of the plaster ceilings and walls need repair, and all new systems are required. Located in the downtown historic district, the house offers a host of residential, commercial, and live/work opportunities. Its grandeur and rich history make it deserving of a vibrant future that honors its past.
House Stats
- Price: $99,900
- Location: Columbia, KY
- Contact: Tom Waggener, Caperton Realty; tmwaggener@gmail.com