Bedford Historic District
Also known as: Village of Bedford; Bedford on Tinkers Creek
Why it's listed
Bedford's historic center is a small-town district built along Broadway, the public square and part of Tarbell Avenue in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. It developed around the waterpower of Tinker's Creek, the stagecoach road between Cleveland and Pittsburgh, and later railroad lines. Most commercial buildings are one-part or two-part brick blocks that meet the sidewalk, many rebuilt after a fire in 1893 destroyed wooden storefronts. The district also includes the Dunham House, built in 1832 in the Federal style, Queen Anne and Craftsman houses on Broadway's south side, a Baptist church of 1892, and a Second Empire township hall of 1874. The square, deeded for public use in 1836, is crossed by railroad rights of way and has two depots, one restored in 1987-1989. Chairmaking made Bedford well known nationally. Although car lots and strip development replaced some older buildings, enough historic fabric survives to convey the village's character as a commercial and transportation center.
Significance in brief: The district grew up around Tinker's Creek industry, the Cleveland to Pittsburgh stagecoach route and several railroads, and became a commercial and transportation center known for chairmaking. After the 1893 fire, the business district was rebuilt in brick, giving it a cohesive small-town character. It also holds a public square given in 1836 and buildings tied to local history, including the Underground Railroad and the railroad depots.
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 04000712, listed July 14, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by Willis St., Franklin St., Broadway Ave., and columbus Rd., Bedford |
|---|---|
| County | Cuyahoga County |
| Listed | July 14, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000712 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architectural style | Federal, Second Empire, Queen Anne, Romanesque, Commercial Style, Bungalow/Craftsman, Art Deco |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Many buildings have had facade alterations but retain enough character; several historic houses now serve commercial or institutional uses, and the 1852 depot is noncontributing for lost integrity. The Connotton Valley depot was restored in 1987-1989. |
| Acreage | 11 |
| Coordinates | 41.39105, -81.53491 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 04000712.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.