Garford, Arthur L., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1895 on former family farm land in Elyria, this three-story stone and shingle mansion at 509 Washington Avenue was the home of Arthur L. Garford. Architect Arthur N. Oviatt of Cleveland designed it in the Shingle Style, with many gables, projecting bays, a wide veranda and a porte cochere on stone posts. The interior is remarkably intact, with original woodwork, wall coverings, metal fixtures and stained glass. Carved sculptured heads serve as brackets and capitals, the main hall walls carry silver leaf and the ceiling gold leaf, and several windows have Tiffany leaded glass. Garford began making bicycle saddles in the 1890s and became head of a manufacturing company and an officer in many other firms. He was a delegate to Republican National Conventions, helped form Ohio's Progressive Party in 1912, and ran for governor in 1912 and for senator in 1914. The house is valued both for his story and for its preserved interiors.
Significance in brief: It was the home of Arthur L. Garford, an important Ohio manufacturer and politician around the turn of the century. It is also an unusually well-preserved, lavishly appointed Shingle Style mansion, with an interior considered more significant than the exterior.
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 74001551, listed December 30, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 509 Washington Ave., Elyria |
|---|---|
| County | Lorain County |
| Listed | December 30, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001551 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1895 (19th and 20th centuries) |
| Architect / builder | Arthur N. Oviatt of Cleveland |
| Architectural style | Shingle Style |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in excellent condition, unaltered, on its original site, and used as a private residence; the third-floor ballroom has been temporarily partitioned into sleeping rooms. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Elyria Downtown-West Avenue Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.36546, -82.10558 (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 74001551.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q116478548
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.