Fox-Pope Farm
Why it's listed
This farmstead in Welshfield, Geauga County, Ohio, grew from a c. 1820 post-and-girt house and bank barn into a prosperous dairy operation. Captain John Fox, who arrived in 1819, completed a brick Greek Revival house in 1845, the first brick house in the area. Its entry shows strong Federal influence. After the Civil War, David L. Pope, who married Fox's daughter Emily, expanded the farm and built a cheese factory and store in 1865. Pope served as president of the Ohio State Dairymen's Association and sat on the State Board of Agriculture. The district includes the house with its moved c. 1820 rear ell, a carriage house, stable, granary, bank barn, milk house, cheese factory ruins, and an irrigation system of dams, reservoirs and a dike. Old trees and open farmland keep the setting close to its 19th-century appearance. The farm was listed for its agricultural importance, its association with Fox and Pope, and its illustration of a complete historic farmstead.
Significance in brief: The farm is significant for its role in the dairy and cheese production that dominated Geauga County and the Western Reserve, and for its ties to early settler Captain John Fox and to David L. Pope, a leader in state agricultural bodies. It also illustrates a historic farmstead through its collection of building types and its intact landscape.
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 92000971, listed August 12, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 17767 Rapids Rd., Welshfield |
|---|---|
| County | Geauga County |
| Listed | August 12, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000971 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | c. 1820-1933 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | A December 1988 fire damaged one second-floor bedroom but caused no structural damage; the house and farm are described as well preserved, and the residence is still used as a dwelling. |
| Acreage | 120 |
| Coordinates | 41.38480, -81.16481 (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 92000971.
- 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.