Lersch, John, House
Why it's listed
Set on a very large lot on Harrison Street in Elyria, this two-story brick house dates from 1867, with interior work added around 1890. It has a sandstone foundation, a hip roof of composition material, a T-shaped plan and an ornate porch with a decorative cornice. It was begun for Sheldon Cole, but was sold before completion to John Lersch, a prominent Elyria store owner, who finished it with some changes. The house was originally meant to face Washington Avenue, but that land was later sold and modern apartments were built there. The apartments are screened from view, yet they block what was intended as the main facade. Inside, the later interior shows Queen Anne character, with fine woodwork, several elaborate fireplaces, and stained and leaded glass windows. The Italianate exterior and Queen Anne interior are the main reasons given for its significance. The form records the house as in excellent condition and still in use as a residence, and notes that rezoning for apartments could threaten it.
Significance in brief: The inventory form describes the house as having a highly significant Italianate exterior and a Queen Anne interior. It was built for Sheldon Cole, then sold to John Lersch, a prominent Elyria store owner, who finished it with some changes. The interior has fine woodwork, elaborate fireplaces and stained and leaded glass windows.
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 79002711, listed August 13, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 121 Harrison St., Elyria |
|---|---|
| County | Lorain County |
| Listed | August 13, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002711 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate (exterior); Queen Anne interior |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Interior and exterior condition listed as excellent; used as a house. The form warns that rezoning for apartments may endanger it. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.37267, -82.10547 (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 79002711.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138497269
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.