Wheeler, John, 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 1834 by Jonathan Vaughn, this square brick house on South Rocky River Drive in Berea is among the oldest buildings in the town. Vaughn belonged to a family of early settlers in Middleburg Township, with Jonathan building its first sawmill and many early houses. In 1855 Rev. John Wheeler bought the house after coming to Berea to become the first president of Baldwin University, the first university in Cuyahoga County. He sold it in 1870 to George Wallace, brother of quarry owner and benefactor James Wallace. The house reflects changing tastes: a two-story, five-bay plan with central stairhall from the Federal style, Greek Revival rectilinearity, a hip roof and belvedere added in the Italianate manner probably after 1855, and a front porch added in 1913 on Tuscan columns. A one and one-half story rear wing and former summer kitchen extend behind the main block. Interior moldings and finishes remain largely intact.
Significance in brief: The house is one of the oldest structures in Berea and was built by one of the town's first settlers. It was later owned by influential citizens, including Rev. John Wheeler, first president of Baldwin University. It also combines Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate and Neo-classic elements.
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 78002034, listed December 1, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 445 S. Rocky River Dr., Berea |
|---|---|
| County | Cuyahoga County |
| Listed | December 1, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002034 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific date 1834) |
| Architect / builder | Jonathan Vaughn |
| Architectural style | Combination of Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate and Neo-classic elements |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, altered, occupied as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 1.8 |
| Coordinates | 41.35793, -81.84722 (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 78002034.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q117429879
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.