Hill, James, House
Also known as: Cuy-354-3
Why it's listed
This two-story brick house on West 58th Street in western Cleveland was built around 1880 by James Hill, a mason contractor who lived there. It combines Queen Anne massing with Eastlake ornament, including a gabled roof, semi-octagonal bays, bracketed eaves and carved wood trim. Its standout feature is the masonry: locally quarried sandstone quoins with beveled edges, string courses carved with diamond patterns, carved stone tablets, herringbone brickwork and corbeled sawtooth gables. Inside, molded plaster ceilings, carved fireplaces and a reversed curving stair survive. Most neighboring homes were wood frame, so the house stands apart, and the nomination suggests Hill may have used it to show his skills to prospective clients. Permits record a kitchen addition and barn in 1889, a brick porch in 1891, and further additions by later owners in 1911, 1913 and 1927. The main front section remains intact, with changes mostly at the rear. It was listed for its architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a well-crafted late nineteenth century masonry residence showing Queen Anne massing with abundant Eastlake detail. In a city where frame houses were the norm, its carved sandstone and fine brickwork stand out. The main section survives intact, with later additions confined to the rear.
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 94000415, listed May 13, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1840 W. 58th St., Cleveland |
|---|---|
| County | Cuyahoga County |
| Listed | May 13, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000415 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1880-1913 |
| Architect / builder | Hill, James (additions) |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne; Eastlake |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a dwelling; rear rooms, altered and deteriorated during apartment conversion, were being rehabilitated at the time of the form. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.48180, -81.72642 (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 94000415.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137711816
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.