Avery, Carlos, House
Why it's listed
Completed in 1855, this two-story brick farmhouse on State Route 58 in Pittsfield Township was built for Carlos Avery, a prosperous farmer who bought the 145-acre tract in 1844 and first lived in a small frame house nearby. The house sits on a cut sandstone foundation and is made of locally produced red brick. A raised, white-painted brick entablature carries full triangular pediments at front and rear, and a lower side wing extends toward the back. Inside, a wide central hall, a spacious open stair and heavy Greek Revival woodwork with pedimented doors and windows survive. It is the largest pre-Civil War residence in the township and one of very few brick houses of that era there. Two similar houses on Hallauer Road suggest a shared unknown builder, though this one is larger. Around 1900 the farm also held a small amusement park served by an interurban line. Alterations to the house have been minor.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a rare and unusually fine example of rural Greek Revival domestic architecture. It is the largest pre-Civil War residence in Pittsfield Township and one of only a handful of brick houses built there in that period. Its broad brick entablature and full triangular pediments define the style in southern Lorain County, and it survives with only minor alterations.
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 84003762, listed May 31, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 18797 SR 58, Wellington |
|---|---|
| County | Lorain County |
| Listed | May 31, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003762 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1855 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence, in excellent condition with minor alterations; the owners had begun a thorough restoration. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 41.20893, -82.21949 (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 84003762.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5041802
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.