Smith, Charles William and Anna, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1885 on what was then the edge of Elyria, Ohio, this two-story brick house at 651 West Broad Street was the home of Charles W. Smith, a watchmaker, jeweler and local real estate figure who opened his first Elyria business in 1862. The land had been mostly cow pasture. The house shows the Queen Anne style through its asymmetrical plan, steep hipped roof with cross gables, brick walls trimmed in sandstone, four heavily corbelled chimneys, and gable ends finished with fishscale shingles, half-timbering and decorative bargeboards. Inside are high ceilings, ornate milled woodwork, faux-marbleized fireplaces, stained glass, a carved oak staircase and Daisy-pattern hardware. A brick carriage house echoes the main building's styling. It is the last historic residence remaining on Broad Street in the downtown commercial area, and it was listed for its architecture and its link to Elyria's prosperous late nineteenth century period.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant under Criterion C as a good example of late 19th century Queen Anne residential architecture in the small industrial town of Elyria. It shows the style's irregular plan, polychrome brick and sandstone masonry, corbelled chimneys, wood gable detailing and ornate interior woodwork. It is also described as the last remaining historic residence on Broad Street in the downtown commercial area.
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 96001623, listed January 25, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 651 W. Broad St., Elyria |
|---|---|
| County | Lorain County |
| Listed | January 25, 1997 |
| Reference number | 96001623 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1885 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition with minimal interior alterations; still used as a single dwelling with a secondary structure (the carriage house). |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.36810, -82.11185 (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 96001623.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138507930
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.