Prospect Avenue Row House Group
Why it's listed
This row of attached three-story houses on Prospect Avenue in Cleveland was built between 1874 and 1879 in brick, stone and frame. Its styles blend High Victorian Gothic, Italianate, Eastlake and Second Empire elements. The three center houses, built in 1874 for the Rev. John G. Hall, his son and William McDermott, are the oldest and simplest, with arched window hoods and bracketed cornices. The stone house to the east followed in 1876, built by publisher and city park promoter Charles H. Bulkley; his son, U.S. Senator Robert J. Bulkley, was born there in 1880. The brick house at the west end was built in 1879 by railroad builder Amasa Stone for his daughter. Interiors have been altered over the years for apartments, and some restoration has taken place. The group matters as the only survivor of three such rows built in an area of detached houses, and as a rare example of this urban housing type in Cleveland.
Significance in brief: The group is a surviving remnant of an unusual architectural type in Cleveland, the only survivor of three such row-house groups built in an area of detached houses on individual lots. It is also the birthplace of U.S. Senator Robert J. Bulkley in 1880.
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 74001450, listed March 27, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 3645, 3649, 3651, 3657 Prospect Ave., Cleveland |
|---|---|
| County | Cuyahoga County |
| Listed | March 27, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001450 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1874-1879 |
| Architectural style | Combination of High Victorian Gothic, High Victorian Italianate, Eastlake, and Second Empire styles |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition and altered; occupied as private residences and apartments, with preservation work in progress. One house is in fair condition and in the process of restoration. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Midtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.50201, -81.66122 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 74001450.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.