Wilson-Falkner-Baldauf House
_IMG_2079.jpg){kind=link}
Why it's listed
Built between 1859 and 1861 on Center Road in Avon Township, this two-story farmhouse is constructed of sandstone quarried in nearby Amherst. The front is faced with cut sandstone blocks and quoins, while the side and rear walls use rubble fieldstone, and a carved lintel over the elaborate entrance bears the date 1861. A one-story wing extends from the main block. Inside, the original plan survives, including a carved scroll-detailed stairway and a decorated sheet-iron fireplace mantel in the music room. The house is attributed to Ebenezer Wilson, whose family farmed the land until 1885, when it passed to the Falkner family and then to the Baldauf family in 1907. Its design blends Greek Revival and Italianate features, and it is one of the least altered of the early sandstone houses in Avon Township. The Historic American Buildings Survey recorded it in the 1930s. A 1901 glazed tile milk house also contributes to the property's character.
Significance in brief: The house is significant under Criterion C as a locally important example of mid-19th century residential architecture built of nearby sandstone. It shows a transition between Greek Revival and Italianate styles and the skill of a local stone mason. It was also documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey in the 1930s and remains largely unaltered.
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 10000278, listed May 21, 2010. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3260 Center Rd., Avon |
|---|---|
| County | Lorain County |
| Listed | May 21, 2010 |
| Reference number | 10000278 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1861-1907 |
| Architect / builder | Ebenezer Wilson (attributed builder; the form notes further research is needed to verify) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a single-family dwelling on a lot of about two acres, with a contributing 1901 milk house and a noncontributing modern metal garage. |
| Acreage | 1.6 |
| Coordinates | 41.44052, -82.01939 (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 10000278.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138478656
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.