Knapp, William, House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1836 on a hillside above the Ohio and Erie Canal in Valley View, this one-and-one-half-story wood frame house was the home of William H. and Deborah Wightman Knapp, early settlers of Independence township. William Knapp was a civil engineer who had worked on canal construction before settling there in 1833. He served as township clerk, postmaster, assessor and Cuyahoga County Surveyor, and he taught school, possibly as the township's first teacher. Deborah Knapp was remembered for taking in people who had no home. The couple lived in the house until their deaths in 1880 and 1888. Architecturally, the house is a modest Greek Revival building with a rectangular main block, gable returns, a central chimney and simple door surrounds with pilasters. Later siding, altered windows and rear additions have changed its look, and it has suffered from neglect. It is valued for its age, its Greek Revival features and its link to the Knapps.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to early settlement in Independence township and to the Knapps, who were prominent early residents. William Knapp was a civil engineer, teacher, township official and county surveyor, and Deborah Knapp was known for giving shelter to people in need. It is also considered one of the oldest frame houses in the Cuyahoga Valley and represents the Greek Revival houses early settlers built there.
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 79000289, listed March 19, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 7101 Canal Rd., Valley View |
|---|---|
| County | Cuyahoga County |
| Listed | March 19, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000289 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Education, Politics/Government, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as deteriorated and altered, with severe damage from neglect, a poor roof and no gutters; the interior was not inspected. Listed as a private residence, with a tenant living there. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Ohio and Erie Canal |
| Coordinates | 41.37240, -81.61160 (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 79000289.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q86730382
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.