Jenkins-Perry House
Why it's listed
Built in 1835-36, this two-story Greek Revival house on West Front Street in Milan, Ohio, has its gable end to the street and a full portico supported by four Ionic columns. The columns are irregularly spaced to match the windows and door, and each is made of a single tree trunk faced with brick and stucco. The doorway, set at the far right of the three-bay front, has an eight-paneled door flanked by fluted Ionic columns. Nathan Jenkins, a storekeeper and contractor on the Milan Canal, built the house as his residence during the canal era, when Milan became a leading grain shipping center. After a fire destroyed his business buildings in 1853, Jenkins left town and sold the house to Dr. Perry, a prominent local doctor and druggist, in 1854. The rear ell has been remodelled, but the rest of the interior and exterior remain largely original. The house reflects Milan's canal-era prosperity and its architectural heritage.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as a symbol of the prosperity that came to Milan with the building of the Milan Canal. Its essentially unchanged appearance and unusual details, especially the irregularly spaced tree-trunk columns, make it an important part of the town's architectural heritage.
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 74001468, listed October 29, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 37 W. Front St., Milan |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | October 29, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001468 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1835-36) |
| Architect / builder | Nathan Jenkins (built as his residence) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition, altered, on its original site, occupied and used as a private residence at the time of nomination. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 41.29774, -82.60896 (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 74001468.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137769132
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.