Benjamin House, listed on the NRHP in Missouri
The Benjamin House is a three-story brick residence in Shelbina built in the early 1870s and designed in the Italian Villa style. It features a hip roof topped with a cupola, three porches, and ornamental windows with cast iron brackets supporting protective canopies.
The house was built around 1872 by Henry G. Isaacs for John Forbes Benjamin, a politician and lawyer who served as a Brigadier General in the Civil War and later served three terms in Congress. After Benjamin's death in 1877, the house changed hands several times and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
The house reflects the prosperity that wealthy families displayed in the late 1800s. The three porches served as social spaces where residents spent time with visitors and observed the public life of the town.
The building is located on South Shelby Street in Shelbina and can be viewed from the street. Since it remains a private residence, it is best to check with local sources before visiting to understand any access guidelines.
Benjamin sold the house and relocated to Washington after being shot during a dispute with a bank associate. His widow Diana remained in Shelbina and continued living there, while Benjamin eventually died without ever returning to the home.
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