Sawyer-Wayside House
Why it's listed
Located on Mentor Avenue near Mentor in Lake County, Ohio, this simple rectangular building was erected around 1843 by Daniel Sawyer, an early settler who walked to Ohio from Onondaga County, New York, in 1810. Sawyer bought 160 acres and farmed with his sons, who later lived in the house. The structure is five bays wide and two deep, with a gable roof, dressed stone foundation, and a central door now sheltered by a wooden enclosed porch. Its most notable feature is a three-course stone cornice, the top course shaped like an ovolo molding, that follows the eaves. Windows have stone lintels and sills, and the large sashes have fixed lower halves and hinged upper halves that open inward. Wooden additions have been made on the south and east sides. Wayside Gardens moved in during 1916, and the building has served as the nursery's catalogue store and offices. Its original all-stone construction was rare in the county, which is the main reason it was recognized.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant in Lake County because it was built entirely of stone, a rare method of construction there. It also notes the unusually large hinged windows and the stone cornice as features that make it an outstanding and unique piece of architecture. It has long association with the Wayside Gardens nursery.
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 74001542, listed October 29, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 9470 Mentor Ave., Mentor |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Listed | October 29, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001542 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (built c. 1843) |
| Architect / builder | Daniel Sawyer |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and altered, occupied and in use as the Wayside Gardens catalogue store and administrative offices; reviewers noted it is no longer all stone due to wooden additions. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 41.68051, -81.30019 (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 74001542.
- 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.