Breckenridge, Justin, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1851 by Justin Breckenridge, a settler from Bennington, Vermont, this two-story brick farmhouse sits on a small knoll at a curve in the road near Grafton, Ohio. It is a Greek Revival building with a slate roof, sandstone lintels and sills, original six-over-six windows, and a full-width front porch with fluted, tapered columns, an unusual feature for the style that appears to be original. A detailed doorway with side windows and pilasters marks the entrance. The property is regarded as the only pre-Civil War brick farmhouse in Grafton Township and its best preserved Greek Revival example. Five older outbuildings remain, including a large barn, a pig barn and a small brick smokehouse, reflecting food storage, pig raising and milk production. The land earlier belonged to Stephen Silbey and Franklin Wells, and guns were reportedly assembled on the farm during the Civil War. After a period of decline, the house was rehabilitated over about five years.
Significance in brief: It is described as the only pre-Civil War brick farmhouse in Grafton Township and the largest and best preserved example of Greek Revival architecture there. It has features rare in rural Greek Revival buildings, such as a full-width porch with fluted, tapered columns. It also keeps original window sash, woodwork and several outbuildings tied to specialized farm activities.
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 78002107, listed November 29, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 37174 S. East Main St., Grafton |
|---|---|
| County | Lorain County |
| Listed | November 29, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002107 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Justin Breckenridge (builder of the present brick house) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence in excellent condition; the interior was extensively restored over about five years after the house had been allowed to deteriorate. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 41.26415, -82.04526 (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 78002107.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138508618
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.