March, George, House
Why it's listed
This 1-1/2 story frame farmhouse at 126 E. Washington Street in Chagrin Falls has a gabled roof with its ridgeline parallel to the street, wide corner pilasters, and cornice boards with returns. The north facade has two doors under a shared paneled surround and long lintel. A one-story wing to the east, dated about 1840, has a porch with square pillars. A garage was added in 1940. Inside, the original two front rooms and four rear bedrooms were altered before 1940 to create a long living room, though much original hardware, molding and flooring survives. The house is tied to George March, a farmer and early promoter of Chagrin Falls who recruited settlers from Massachusetts. Later research showed the house was built between 1841 and 1846, when it was owned by carpenter and builder James Bosworth, and that March bought it in 1849. The lot was about ten and a quarter acres. It is locally believed to be the village's oldest surviving building.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a local reminder of the early settlement of Chagrin Falls, since it was the farmhouse of George March, described as an early settler and promoter of the town. It is locally believed to be the oldest remaining building in the village. A later continuation sheet corrected the construction date and the lot size.
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 78002037, listed April 20, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 126 E. Washington St., Chagrin Falls |
|---|---|
| County | Cuyahoga County |
| Listed | April 20, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002037 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | James Bosworth, carpenter and builder, owned the property when the house was built (1841-1846); the form does not explicitly name him as builder. |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition and in use as a private residence; the interior was altered before 1940 but most original hardware, molding and floors remain. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Chagrin Falls East Side Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.42967, -81.38712 (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 78002037.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137642357
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.