Corning-White House
Why it's listed
This late Federal house at 8353 Mentor Avenue in Mentor, Ohio, was built in the 1830s and has a central block with symmetrical wings set back on either side. The form attributes its facade to the architect Jonathan Goldsmith. The main doorway is more ornate than is usual in the Western Reserve, with pilasters, sidelights and a four-section transom, and an elliptical window with original carving sits in the pediment. Each wing has a front porch with fluted columns; the original unfluted columns are stored in the basement. In the 1930s the wing roofs were raised to a full two stories. The house was the home of Nathan Corning, who became the first mayor of Mentor Village in 1854. His parents, Colonel and Mrs. Warren Corning, took the site in 1810 and had separate quarters in the east wing. Nathan Corning tied brooms by hand in an ell behind the west wing. The house was listed as one of the best remaining examples of Goldsmith's work in Lake County, at a time when its future was uncertain.
Significance in brief: The house is described as one of the best remaining examples of Jonathan Goldsmith's work in Lake County. It was also the home of Nathan Corning, the first mayor of Mentor Village when it was incorporated in 1854.
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 72001027, listed November 7, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 8353 Mentor Ave., Mentor |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Listed | November 7, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001027 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | early 1830's (19th century) |
| Architect / builder | Jonathan Goldsmith (architect) |
| Architectural style | Late Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition; a transmittal letter says the owner was being pressured to sell the commercially zoned land for a gas station. Listed as for sale with an uncertain future. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 41.66625, -81.34169 (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 72001027.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138448058
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.