Dunham, Hezekiah, House
Why it's listed
Standing on a narrow lot a dozen steps above the sidewalk on Broadway in Bedford, this two-story brick house in the late Adam style was the home of Hezekiah Dunham. Its five-bay facade has a center entrance with a semi-elliptical fanlight and sidelights. A frame wing at the rear appears to be older than the brick section, and some of its joists are unfinished logs. The porch and Italianate brackets were added after 1872. Dunham arrived around 1830 or 1831, and the house is traditionally dated to 1832. In 1834 he had part of his land surveyed for a village, with lots set aside for a public square, town hall and school, and he routed the main street past his door. Bedford was incorporated in 1837. The house survives amid dense commercial development and illustrates early nineteenth century construction. It currently holds rental apartments, and its owner plans rehabilitation.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house was the home of Bedford's most important early citizen, Hezekiah Dunham, who laid out the town plat in 1834. It is also a rare survivor on a densely commercial street and a good example of early nineteenth century building.
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 75001352, listed June 18, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 729 Broadway, Bedford |
|---|---|
| County | Cuyahoga County |
| Listed | June 18, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001352 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific dates 1832; 1834) |
| Architectural style | Late Adam style (Federal with Italianate elements) |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Good condition but altered; used for rental apartments, with the historical society owner planning rehabilitation and public use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Bedford Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.39098, -81.53426 (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 75001352.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137636260
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.