Gifford, Dr. William, House
Also known as: TKE Fraternity
Why it's listed
Built in 1901 at 3047 Prospect Avenue in Cleveland, this two-and-a-half-story house was designed by architect W.W. Sabin for Dr. William Gifford. It combines a brick lower story with a half-timbered second story under a roof of intersecting gables that face the street. A central porch has ogee-arched openings and a dentilled cornice, and carved wooden brackets and panels add detail. The house was listed for its architecture, as a good example of the Tudor Revival style. Its steeply pitched roof, dormers, half-timbering and arched porch are the features singled out, and a version of the design was illustrated in the 1901 Cleveland Architectural Club exhibition. Gifford's family used it as a single-family residence for sixteen years. In 1917 it became the Mary Ingersoll Girls Club, a boarding home for self-supporting young women, founded in 1901 by Mary Ingersoll. It is now used as a fraternity house and is part of the Upper Prospect group of listed properties.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its architecture, as a good example of Tudor Revival style. Its highly pitched roof and dormers, half-timbered second story and ogee-arched porch are cited. An illustration of the design, with some modifications, appeared in the 1901 Cleveland Architectural Club exhibition.
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 84000228, listed November 1, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 3047 Prospect Ave., Cleveland |
|---|---|
| County | Cuyahoga County |
| Listed | November 1, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84000228 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1901 |
| Architect / builder | W.W. Sabin (architect); builder unknown |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Exterior in good condition; used as a fraternity house, privately owned. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Midtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.50135, -81.66601 (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 84000228.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5304473
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.