Columbus Near East Side District
Also known as: See Also:Columbus Near East Side Historic District-Parsons A
Why it's listed
Columbus Near East Side District is a large residential area just east of downtown Columbus, covering about 630 acres around Bryden Road and the nearly 100-acre Franklin Park. Its brick and stone houses, churches, schools and apartment buildings date mostly from the 1880s to the 1930s and show Italianate, Queen Anne, Romanesque, Colonial Revival and Tudor styles. Houses in the western half are large for their small lots, while later buildings to the east are more widely spaced. Notable landmarks include the Fair Avenue School, designed by Frank L. Packard, and the Old First Methodist Church, designed by George Bellows Sr. The district was home to wealthy and prominent Columbus families and to the grandfather of writer James Thurber. Freeways and population change brought decline, but the lack of new construction left much of the early architecture intact. It was listed for its architectural quality and its record of the city's eastward growth.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the district preserves some of the best late 19th and early 20th century architecture in Columbus, in styles from Italianate and Queen Anne to Romanesque, Colonial and Tudor revival. It also illustrates how a once-fashionable, affluent neighborhood declined economically after demographic shifts and freeway construction. Prominent Columbus families and figures are associated with it, including the Deshler, Huntington and Lazarus families and the writer James Thurber's family.
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 78002063, listed May 19, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by Parsons Ave., Broad and Main Sts., and the railroad tracks, Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | May 19, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002063 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1860-1930 |
| Architect / builder | Frank L. Packard (Fair Avenue School; possibly 1330 Bryden Road with partner Yost); George Bellows Sr. (Old First Methodist Church); C.F. Myers (builder of 1330 Bryden Road) |
| Architectural style | Range of late 19th and early 20th century styles including Italianate, Queen Anne, Richardsonian Romanesque, Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival and eclectic |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Literature, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good to deteriorated; parts are well maintained, especially homes around Franklin Park, and community restoration efforts were under way. Some carriage houses have been demolished. |
| Acreage | 630 |
| Coordinates | 39.96129, -82.96561 (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 78002063.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q96650371
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.