Lilly House
Also known as: Cuy-1575-13
Why it's listed
Built around 1844 on Center Ridge Road in Westlake, this small farmhouse combines sandstone and brick in the Greek Revival manner. The original 1½-story section is laid up in massive, hand-tooled sandstone blocks that extend clear through walls up to a foot and a half thick, resting on even larger blocks in the basement. Heavy hewn beams frame the floors and roof. A brick wing on a sandstone foundation, probably added around 1855, extends the plan into an L. The house was built for Austin and Roxanna Lilly, who came from Massachusetts in 1832, and later passed to their son Albertus, a farmer. It is significant as an example of fine stone craftsmanship in a region where sandstone houses are usually larger and more imposing. Only two sandstone Greek Revival farmhouses of this type survive in Westlake. The exterior form remains intact, though the property has lost acreage and suffered from years of vacancy.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a rare, locally unusual sandstone Greek Revival farmhouse, one of only two surviving in Westlake. It is built of unusually thick solid sandstone blocks that run through the walls, and has massive hewn timber framing. The brick wing on a sandstone foundation is also a rare combination.
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 06000270, listed April 12, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 27946 Center Ridge Rd., Westlake |
|---|---|
| County | Cuyahoga County |
| Listed | April 12, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000270 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1844-1855 |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century: Greek Revival (Upright and Wing type) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant/not in use; the house was abandoned for a number of years, has deterioration in the roof and floors, and its exterior was chemically cleaned in 2004. It was deeded to the city of Westlake for use as a museum. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 41.44503, -81.93191 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 06000270.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137755657
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.