Merwin, George, House
Also known as: Rowfant Club Building
Why it's listed
Built around 1850 for early Cleveland settler George Merwin, this two-story brick house at 3028 Prospect Avenue combines Italianate detailing with a stone foundation, wood trim and a hipped roof. The five-bay front has a projecting center section topped by a pediment, and a portico with two round Corinthian columns shelters the double-door entrance. Paired and single brackets support the cornices, and the interior retains marble fireplaces and heavy woodwork. The house once stood on a large lot on Euclid Avenue but was moved a short distance south when Prospect Avenue was extended. After Merwin's death the Ackley and Doubleday families owned it, and the Rowfant Club acquired it in 1895. Architect Charles Schweinfurth, an early club member, helped adapt the building to the club's needs. An addition was later built on the south side. The house was listed for its architectural character, and the move was judged not to have harmed its significance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is architecturally important for its Italianate detailing, including bracketed cornices, a pedimented portico with Corinthian columns, and a hipped roof. It also notes the house survived a short move without losing its architectural significance. Its long use by the Rowfant Club, which altered it with help from architect Charles Schweinfurth, adds to its story.
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 73001412, listed June 4, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 3028 Prospect Ave., Cleveland |
|---|---|
| County | Cuyahoga County |
| Listed | June 4, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001412 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (circa 1850) |
| Architect / builder | George Merwin (builder/original owner); Charles Schweinfurth helped adapt it for the club |
| Architectural style | Italianate detailing |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in good condition; used as a private club by the Rowfant Club, altered with a south addition and moved a short distance. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Within district | Midtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.50163, -81.66434 (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 73001412.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137697802
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.