Dayton, James, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1840 on West Main Street in Madison, this 1-1/2-story wood frame house combines a Federal-style five-bay plan with a Greek Revival doorway that includes a transom, sidelights, a broken cornice and a paneled architrave. It is attributed to Addison Kimball, who is credited with several early homes in the town. A rear wing, said to be about 15 years older, originally stood south of its present spot on the lot and was moved in 1840 to join the main house. An east sun porch was added in 1927, and the original six-over-six windows survive. Aluminum siding now covers the walls. In the late 19th century the Dayton family, cattle dealers and shippers, lived here. The house is valued for its fine doorway and for its large, deep, largely unaltered lot at the edge of town, which remains almost rural in character.
Significance in brief: The house is credited to Addison Kimball, one of several early Madison homes attributed to him. It is notable for its unusually fine Greek Revival doorway despite later additions and modern siding. The large, unaltered site is also considered significant.
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 80003114, listed October 20, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 939 W. Main St., Madison |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Listed | October 20, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003114 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1840 |
| Architect / builder | Attributed to Addison Kimball |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a residence; interior and exterior condition listed as excellent. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.76899, -81.05408 (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 80003114.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138430720
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.