Aldrich, Aaron, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1829, this L-plan frame farmhouse on Lake Road in Bay Village sits on a wooded lot along one of Cuyahoga County's oldest roads. The two-and-a-half-story main block faces gable-end to the road and has a full pediment with a semi-elliptical fanlight, nine-over-six windows, and an off-center entrance with transom and sidelights. A brick foundation is unusual for the area. Inside, carved Federal mantelpieces, a spindled stairwell, bands of clothing pegs, and much of the original flooring, woodwork, and hardware survive. A board-and-batten barn from the later nineteenth century stands to the east. Aaron Aldrich, born in Rhode Island in 1793, arrived in Dover Township in 1816, worked in New York, and returned in 1829 to buy 140 acres and start the house. He made furniture, ran a tannery across the road, helped organize the First Baptist Church of Dover, and served as a township magistrate. His family kept the property for nearly 160 years.
Significance in brief: The house is considered an exceptionally well-preserved Federal period farmhouse that combines fine Federal detail with simple vernacular construction. Its interior retains a high degree of integrity. It is also tied to Aaron Aldrich, an early township settler, and was held by the Aldrich family for nearly 160 years.
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 78002033, listed December 4, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 30663 Lake Rd., Bay Village |
|---|---|
| County | Cuyahoga County |
| Listed | December 4, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002033 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1829 |
| Architectural style | Federal period farmhouse |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as a private residence; interior remarkably unaltered, with the rear porch enclosed and the borning room remodeled. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.49711, -81.95866 (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 78002033.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4661805
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.