Reefy, Frederick, House
Why it's listed
This two-story wood-frame house on Third Street in Elyria, Ohio, dates to the late 1870s and was built for Frederick Reefy. It is regarded as a fine example of the Stick style, with abundant scroll-saw work, ornate wood carving and detailed joinery. The house has an L-shaped plan, a sandstone foundation, a complex asphalt-shingle roof, and a front of three bays with five along the side. Reefy was a prominent local figure who edited the Elyria Democrat, served as mayor for a time, and sponsored many social reforms and physical improvements in the city. The house was once almost a slum but has since been carefully restored on the exterior, which is in excellent condition. The interior has been extensively altered and is considered of little interest. The small lot is crowded between two larger buildings, and the rear has several recent additions. The building now serves as an office.
Significance in brief: It is described as a fine example of the Stick style, with extensive scroll-saw work and wood joinery. It is also tied to Frederick Reefy, a prominent Elyrian who edited the Elyria Democrat, served as mayor, and sponsored social reforms and civic improvements.
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 79002729, listed August 13, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 3rd St. between West Ave. and Court St., Elyria |
|---|---|
| County | Lorain County |
| Listed | August 13, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002729 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Stick style |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Exterior described as beautifully restored and in excellent condition, after once being almost a slum; interior extensively altered; used as an office building. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Elyria Downtown-West Avenue Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.36507, -82.10893 (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 79002729.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.