Ladd's Tavern
Why it's listed
Ladd's Tavern is a 2-1/2 story frame building on South Ridge Road in Madison, Ohio, built for Jesse Ladd, who arrived from Massachusetts in 1812. Construction began that fall under builder Addison Kimball and finished in 1813. It served as the main house of Ladd's farm and as a tavern for the heavy westward emigration along the ridge road. The first store in the community was reportedly in the building, and congregational services were first held there in 1819. Ladd ran the tavern until his death in 1829. Elisha Wood bought the property in 1830 and ended its use as a tavern, instead operating a brick kiln, saw mill and wool carding factory on the land. The building keeps Federal-style details, including reeded woodwork, original mantels, a surviving tap room door and the center stairs. It now holds four apartments, with its room layout largely intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is historically important as the home of two early settlers and as an early tavern housing western-bound settlers. It is also described as an important local landmark along the ridge road. The first store in the area and the first congregational services in 1819 were reportedly held there.
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 78002091, listed May 22, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 5466 S. Ridge Rd., Madison |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Listed | May 22, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002091 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Addison Kimball, builder (described as a noted local architect) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as 4 apartments, with little alteration to the room arrangements; condition marked fair. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 41.76283, -81.09317 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 78002091.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138416704
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.