Cummins, David, Octagon House
Why it's listed
Standing at 301 Liberty Street in Conneaut, this two-story octagonal house is built of wood frame and topped by a pyramidal roof with an octagonal lantern that lights the central stairwell. Bracketed eaves with pendant knobs, slightly pointed window lintels and vertical board-and-batten walls give it some Italian Villa character. The board-and-batten siding is fairly unusual in northern Ohio, and a north-side porch appears to be a later addition. Each floor has four principal rooms. It was built for David Cummins, born near Buffalo, New York, in 1827, who worked as a harness maker until 1863, when he opened a canning factory that became the D. Cummins Company. He remained active in the business until 1909. The exact construction date is unknown, but the 1860s is most likely. The house is valued as a rare surviving octagon house and as the only building of architectural character in its immediate neighborhood.
Significance in brief: It was built by an important nineteenth-century Conneaut manufacturer and is one of the rare examples of a rapidly disappearing type, the octagon house. Its vertical board-and-batten siding is unusual, especially in northern Ohio.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 74001394, listed September 9, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 301 Liberty St., Conneaut |
|---|---|
| County | Ashtabula County |
| Listed | September 9, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001394 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architectural style | Octagon house with some Italian Villa features |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition, altered, on its original site, in use as a private residence; the interior was not available for inspection. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.94117, -80.55695 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 74001394.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5232715
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.