Joseph Riggs & 613 Front Street Portsmouth, Ohio

Built around 1850 for prominent Portsmouth citizen, Joseph Riggs, the beautiful 62’x29′ Federal-Greek Revival style home featured rectangular with stone lintels and lugsills. In addition to the main residence there was also a four-room caretaker’s cottage with steamboat Gothic trim and an expansive 40’x25′ brick carriage house. ¹

Present Day Location ²

Engineer of West Portsmouth Towpath

In 1860, he engineered the construction of the towpath from the city of Portsmouth to Union Mills, and charged $70 for his entire services. ³

Joseph Riggs Obituary ⁴

Biographical Sketch of Joseph Riggs

1. Winters, K., & Brock, D. (1975). Ohio Historical Inventory. Ohio Historical Inventory (pp. 1–1). Columbus, OH: Ohio Historical Preservation Office.
2. (Google Maps, “613 Front Street”, 2013, pp. https://www.google.com/maps/place/613+Front+St,+Portsmouth,+OH+45662/@38.7306474,-83.0002468,3a,75y,11.13h,77.44t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sVgIs8I0NhHfJynhrujJKNg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x88468c7b8eecd77d:0xbfd410a144a3c834!8m2!3d38.7309!4d-83.0003?hl=en)
3. Doings of the Commissioners. (1860, March 10). Portsmouth Times, pp. 3–3. Retrieved from https://newspaperarchive.com/portsmouth-times-mar-10-1860-p-3/
4. Another Pioneer Gone. (1877, August 4). Portsmouth Time, pp. 3–3. Retrieved from https://newspaperarchive.com/portsmouth-times-aug-04-1877-p-3/