Goodwin, Dr. Erastus, House
Why it's listed
This brick house at 14485 Main Street in Burton, Ohio, dates to about 1815, when tax records show it was built for Dr. Erastus Goodwin. Goodwin, born in Connecticut, came to Burton in 1811 and practiced medicine there until his death, apart from time as an army surgeon in the War of 1812. The house is described as one of the first permanent residences in the town, which was surveyed in 1798. The three-bay, four-bay-deep building has its gable end facing the street, locally made brick walls, and cut sandstone foundation, sills and lintels. Exterior details include a dentiled cornice and louvered fans set in brick arches over the entrance and front gable. A single-story wing on the south may be the original 1815 portion. Inside, the original softwood floors, front stairs and reeded woodwork survive. The house is regarded as a largely unchanged example of early Western Reserve architecture in the New England tradition.
Significance in brief: It is described as one of the first permanent residences built in Burton and was the home of Dr. Erastus Goodwin, one of the town's first doctors. The form also calls it a fine and largely unchanged example of early Western Reserve architecture, reflecting the building style New Englanders brought to Ohio.
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 75001406, listed August 1, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 14485 Main St., Burton |
|---|---|
| County | Geauga County |
| Listed | August 1, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001406 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | circa 1815-25 |
| Architectural style | Early Western Reserve architecture (a later data sheet notes Greek Revival) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition and altered, on its original site, and used as a private residence. The south wing has been gutted and has serious structural defects in the masonry. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.47446, -81.14498 (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 75001406.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138339790
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.