Center Street Historic District (Ashland, Ohio) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Center Street Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Location in Ohio Show map of Ohio Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Center St. from Vernon to 414 Center St., Ashland, Ohio
Area	16 acres (6.5 ha)
Architectural style	Mid 19th Century Revival, Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Late Victorian
NRHP reference No.	76001362
Added to NRHP	June 18, 1976

The Center Street Historic District is a special area in Ashland, Ohio, United States, known for its beautiful old buildings. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. This means it's officially recognized as an important historical place.

The district is famous for its Victorian homes. These houses were built between the late 1800s and early 1900s. Center Street runs through Ashland, following the path of Ohio State Route 511 and Ohio State Route 60. A group called The Center Street Historic District Association helps take care of the area.

A Street of Grand Homes

From the very beginning, Center Street was planned to be a place for important homes. An old newspaper article from 1859 said that Center Street would become one of the most attractive streets in the state.

This prediction came true! Many successful business people, factory owners, bankers, and doctors built their large homes here. Since these houses were built over many years (from 1850 to 1920), you can see lots of different architectural styles. The street still looks much like it did when most of these grand homes were finished.

Keeping Animals Off the Street

Long ago, almost all the houses on Center Street had fences with gates. These gates were kept closed to stop farm animals like pigs and cows from wandering around town. In the 1860s, Ashland passed special rules to prevent these animals from roaming freely.

Paving the Way

In 1894, Center Street became one of the first streets in Ashland to be paved with bricks. This happened even before Main Street, which is a big deal!

A person named Alta Sims, who helped get the street listed as historic, once said that the Center Street Historic District is like "a real textbook in residential architecture." This means you can learn a lot about different house styles just by walking down the street!

Houses on the West Side of Center Street

Let's take a look at some of the interesting houses on the west side of Center Street, starting from Town Creek.

The Carter-Shinn House (220 Center Street)

• This house was built in 1893.
• It's a great example of Queen Anne Architecture.
• It has a cool tower (called a turret) with a pointy roof and a metal decoration on top.
• The first owner, William Carter, was in the lumber business.
• Today, it's a florist shop called Annette's Victorian Garden.

The Hildebrand House (302 Center Street)

• Built in 1859, this house originally had Greek Revival Architecture.
• It was the home of Jacob Hildebrand.
• Now, it's a cozy bed and breakfast called The Jenny Wade Bed and Breakfast.

The Parsonage (308 Center Street)

• This house was built in 1896 and shows off Queen Anne Architecture.
• It also has a turret with a cone-shaped roof and a metal finial.
• It was given as a gift to be the home for the pastor of the Congregational Church.

The Benjamin Myers House (312 Center Street)

• Another Queen Anne style home.
• Dr. Benjamin Myers, who lived here, was a very important person. He served in the Ohio General Assembly, was mayor of Ashland, and a judge.
• Today, it's Dr. Starkey's Chiropractic Clinic.

The Cowan House (414 Center Street)

• This house was originally a simple brick building.
• It was expanded in 1905 in the Colonial Revival style.
• Dr. Jacob P. Cowan, a physician, lived here. He also served in the Ohio General Assembly and was a U.S. Representative.
• It's now home to the Ashland County Historical Society.

The Thornburg Carriage House (414 Center Street)

• This building is also part of the Ashland County Historical Society.
• It houses the Thomas Thornburg Insect Collection.

The Wallack House (432 Center Street)

• Built before 1874, this is a Queen Anne style house.
• Eli W. Wallack, a furniture store owner, lived here.
• It used to be the home of the American Red Cross and is now a law office.

The Philip A. Myers House (508 Center Street)

• Built in 1915, this is a grand house made of limestone and brick.
• It's an example of Italian Villa Architecture.
• P. A. Myers was a famous inventor with over 100 patents! He and his brother owned a huge pump and hay tool business.
• This house is now part of Trinity Lutheran Church.

The Frazee House (602 Center Street)

• Built in 1873, this red brick house is in the Italianate style.
• It has a heavy, decorative roof edge and carved details above the windows.
• William C. Frazee, a businessman, lived here.

The Clark House (622 Center Street)

• Built in 1918, this is an impressive three-story brick and stone house.
• It's an example of Jacobean Architecture.
• Jesse Lewis Clark built this home. He founded a large stock-food plant and built Ashland's Good Samaritan Hospital.
• Today, it's The Good Shepherd Rehabilitation and Healthcare Campus.

The Mayner House (800 Center Street)

• Built around 1910, this is a Queen Anne style house.
• It's currently the Flora House, providing housing for Ashland Theological Seminary.

The Brown House (812 Center Street)

• Built in 1908, this house features Dutch Colonial Revival Architecture.
• Emery Brown, who helped start a department store, lived here.
• It's now the China House, also housing for Ashland Theological Seminary.

The Hunter House (818 Center Street)

• Built around 1900, this house shows Victorian Vernacular Architecture.

The Dotterwick House (824 Center Street)

• Built around 1935 by Dr. Fred Dotterwick.
• It's another example of Victorian Vernacular Architecture.
• Currently, it's the Miller House, housing for Ashland Theological Seminary.

The Heltman House (834 Center Street)

• Built before 1874, this ornate three-story house is in the Gothic Revival style.
• It has a smaller, two-story turret and a wrap-around porch.
• J. H. "Hal" Heltman, a grocer, lived here for most of his life.
• It's now the Mossey Building, a welcome center for Ashland Theological Seminary.

The J.C. Myers House (910 Center Street)

• Built in 1908, this house has a unique Prairie Style Architecture look.
• It has a horizontal design, dark wood, and a low-pitched tiled roof.
• John C. Myers, a Harvard graduate and art collector, lived here.
• It currently serves as the Ashland Theological Seminary.

The T.W. Miller House (934 Center Street)

• Built in 1914, this is one of the most unique houses on Center Street.
• It features Spanish Colonial Revival Architecture with white stucco walls and a red tiled roof.
• Thomas W. Miller founded a rubber company that became very successful.
• It's now used as medical offices.

The Haynes House (1016 Center Street)

• Built in the 1920s, this house is made of limestone and stucco.
• It's an example of English Revival Architecture.

The Barr-Sheets House (1042 Center Street)

• This house showcases Craftsman Architecture.

Houses on the East Side of Center Street

Now, let's explore the houses on the east side of Center Street, also starting from Town Creek.

The Old Congregational Church (209 Center Street)

• Completed in 1890, this church is described as a "heavy and elegant brick structure."
• It's an example of Romanesque Architecture.
• The Congregational church was founded in 1889.
• It's now Bethel Church.

The Pancoast House (303 Center Street)

• This Queen Anne style house was built in 1904 by Adaline Pancoast.
• Her husband, Ohio Pancoast, was a druggist and one of the first to use gas lights in his store.

The Randolph Freer House (313 Center Street)

• This house features Italianate Architecture.
• Randolph D. Freer, along with his brother, started the Farmers' Bank of Ashland in 1874.
• It's now Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home.

The Old United Brethren Church (401 Center Street)

• This church was dedicated in 1896 and shows Victorian Vernacular Architecture.
• The congregation built it because they needed more space.
• It's now the Heritage Baptist Church.

The Grabill Home (413 Center Street)

• Built in 1903, this house is a great example of Colonial Revival Architecture.
• It has rounded porches and tall columns.
• Samuel H. Grabill, a farmer and businessman, lived here.

The Topping House (421 Center Street)

• William V. B. Topping built this sturdy house in 1908.
• It has an orange tile roof and a mix of wood siding and brick.
• Young Will Topping was one of the first people in Ashland to ride a bicycle!

The Patterson House (427 Center Street)

• Built in 1900, this house is in the Victorian Vernacular Architecture style.
• It has beautiful cherry and oak woodwork inside.
• Joseph Patterson was the president of the First National Bank of Ashland.

The Randolph Freer Homestead (431 Center Street)

• This tall home is a Queen Anne style house.
• It has a second-story porch and a unique central turret.

The Jonas Freer House (503 Center Street)

• One of the oldest houses on Center Street, built in 1859.
• It's a symmetrical house with a tall, central gable.
• Jonas and Mary Freer lived here. Mary Freer donated the Soldiers' Monument in town.

The Ullman House (509 Center Street)

• Built around 1880, this house shows Italianate Architecture.
• It was rescued and restored in 1984.
• It has gingerbread trim, porches, and high ceilings.

The McClellan House (513 Center Street)

• The original part of this Queen Anne style house was built in the 1890s.
• Dr. Wilson Marshall McClellan, who owned a drug store, lived here.

The Wick House (521 Center Street)

• C. O. Wick built this house before 1874.
• It was later split into two residences.
• Thomas R. Shinn, who helped form a department store, lived here.

The Wick House (525 Center Street)

• Originally part of the same building as 521 Center Street.
• Both houses have three-story turrets and front porches.

The Damp House (531 Center Street)

• This Queen Anne style home was built before 1872 by John Damp.
• It has a three-story main section and a bay window.

The Brinton House (603 Center Street)

• Built before 1874, this house is in the Victorian Stick Architecture style.
• Joseph Brinton, a railway agent, lived here.

The Sackett House (609 Center Street)

• This Queen Anne style house was built in the 1880s.
• Dr. Clark D. Sackett lived here and also ran his medical practice from the house.

The McDowell House (707 Center Street)

• Built around the 1930s, this house features Dutch Colonial Revival Architecture.
• Ed McDowell, a superintendent at a large company, lived here.

The 1st T.W. Miller House (713 Center Street)

• Built around 1909, this house is an example of American Four-Square Architecture.
• It was the first home for Thomas W. Miller and his wife, Helen Myers.

The Banning House (717 Center Street)

• Built in the 1880s, this is one of the most remarkable homes on Center Street.
• It's in the Second Empire Architecture style.
• It originally had tall Gothic doors and a ballroom on the third floor.
• The house has since been converted into apartments.

The Mykrantz House (803 Center Street)

• This Queen Anne style house was built in the 1890s.
• It has a unique wrap-around porch and crescent windows.
• Joseph C. Mykrantz was a well-known attorney.

The Mowrey House (819 Center Street)

• Built in 1906, this house shows Dutch Colonial Revival Architecture.
• H. A. Mowrey, who had a photography business, lived here.

The Slocum House (831 Center Street)

• Built in the late 1860s, this house was originally a farmhouse.
• It's in the Gothic Revival Architecture style with decorative details.

The George Freer House (841 Center Street)

• Built in 1902, this house features Victorian Vernacular Architecture.
• It has a large wrap-around porch.
• George R. Freer was a banker and also in the clothing business.

The Charles Freer House (847 Center Street)

• Built in 1901, this house has Vernacular with Colonial Revival Influenced Architecture.
• Charles R. Freer was also in the clothing business with his brothers.

The Brubaker House (855 Center Street)

• Built in 1905, this house is in the Colonial Revival Architecture style.
• William Henry Brubaker was a part-owner of the Ashland Hardware store.

The Kenney House (903 Center Street)

• Built before 1874, this house started as a simple brick farmhouse.
• It has a fireplace with tiles that might have come from Germany.

The Beach House (911 Center Street)

• Built around 1930 by W. V. Beach.

The Balch House (919 Center Street)

• Built around 1930, this house shows English Tudor Architecture.

The Cordell House (925 Center Street)

• This Queen Anne style house was built around 1920 by Will Cordell.

The Young House (931 Center Street)

• Built around 1920, this is another Queen Anne style house.

The Stockwell House (933 Center Street)

• Built in 1922, this Elizabethan stone house has a unique roof that looks like thatch.
• John Stockwell was one of the founders of the Home Company.

The Stearns House (16 Vernon Avenue)

• This house, formerly at 1003 Center Street, is in the Victorian Vernacular Architecture style.