Lord, Addison, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1904 at 315 West Avenue in Elyria, this 2 1/2 story house shows early Colonial Revival design blended with late Queen Anne features. It sits on a cut sandstone foundation, with clapboard on the first floor, cedar shingles above, a columned portico, pedimented dormers, bay windows and a large Palladian stained glass window lighting the stair landing. Inside, quarter-sawn oak paneling, pocket doors, a parlor fireplace with Ionic columns and built-in cabinetry remain almost entirely intact. Addison Lord, born in Connecticut in 1842, served in the Navy, ran cigar businesses in Elyria, served two terms as Lorain County sheriff, and later built telephone systems. He and his wife Louise had the house built after he retired as sheriff. The house was listed for architecture because high-style Colonial Revival homes are rare in Elyria, and none of the other examples combine this level of design quality and integrity. A later concrete block garage is the only noncontributing building.
Significance in brief: The house is significant under Criterion C as one of the few and best examples of Colonial Revival architecture in Elyria. It also shows Queen Anne touches, and retains high integrity inside and out, including quarter-sawn oak interiors and a Palladian stained glass window. It reflects the social and economic standing of Addison Lord, a former cigar merchant, county sheriff and telephone businessman.
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 99001497, listed December 9, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 315 West Ave., Elyria |
|---|---|
| County | Lorain County |
| Listed | December 9, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99001497 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1904 |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; the form notes minor alterations such as an enclosed rear porch but substantial integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Elyria Downtown-West Avenue Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.36487, -82.11072 (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 99001497.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138508573
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.