Greenwood Farm
Why it's listed
Greenwood Farm is a group of mid-nineteenth century farm buildings about a quarter mile northeast of Delaware, Ohio. Six buildings remain, four of them considered significant: a small brick house probably built in the 1840s, a brick main farmhouse from the early 1850s, a large braced-frame bank barn on a limestone foundation, and an apple storage building. A cornerstone on the barn records its erection by J. J. Vergon and Sons in 1854. The apple storage building was an innovative design, with an iced frame section and an insulated brick section that kept fruit from spoiling until late spring or early summer. The farm was settled by John and Elizabeth Vergon, who came from southern France in 1834, and it remained in the family afterward. Their son Frederick Vergon became a nationally recognized orchardist, established one of Ohio's first commercial orchards in 1888, and built the nearby Greenwood Lake amusement park. The complex was listed as a nearly intact nineteenth century farm.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a well-preserved, nearly intact nineteenth century farm complex that stayed in the Vergon family for over 140 years. It is also significant as the home of Frederick Vergon, a nationally recognized orchardist credited with the grass mulch system of horticulture. The innovative apple storage building and the fine bank barn add to its agricultural and architectural interest.
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 79001825, listed April 17, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | S of Delaware off U.S. 42, Delaware |
|---|---|
| County | Delaware County |
| Listed | April 17, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001825 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | J.J. Vergon & Sons |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Buildings in fair to good condition; the owner was restoring the complex at the time of nomination. The form marks the status as both occupied and unoccupied. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 40.31171, -83.06126 (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 79001825.
- 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.