Drake, Elam, House
Also known as: Elizabeth J. & Louis C. Wallick Residence
Why it's listed
This farmstead on Ole Country Lane in Columbus, Franklin County, preserves a complete group of brick farm buildings from the mid-19th century. Elam Drake, born in Connecticut in 1812, came to Franklin County in 1831 and worked as a brick layer, plasterer and contractor, helping build many of Columbus's finer residences. After retiring to farming in 1856, he built the north part of the house, a combined summer kitchen and smoke house, and later a south section with Federal-influenced proportions. The one-story north end was originally a single large room for living, sleeping and cooking. A brick barn for grain storage and threshing followed in 1867. Bricks were made from clay pits on the original 62-acre farm. All the buildings use American bond brickwork on coursed rubble stone foundations. The nomination values the group as an unusually intact farmstead, and the barn as one of the few brick barns in the area.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the farmstead as an excellent example of a typical 19th-century farm grouping that remains largely unaltered. It highlights the craftsmanship of Elam Drake, a brick mason and contractor who built many residences in Columbus. The brick thrashing barn is noted as one of the few brick barns in the area and probably the best preserved.
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 78002064, listed April 6, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2738 Ole Country Lane, Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | April 6, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002064 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Elam Drake (1812-1900), builder |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied private residence in good condition; the nomination says the buildings stand without major alterations. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 40.00417, -82.92072 (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 78002064.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q104833773
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.