Cook, Zimri, House
Why it's listed
Near Lester in York Township, Medina County, Ohio, this wooden frame house dates from roughly 1845 to 1850 and was built for Zimri Cook. Cook was born in Jefferson County, New York, in 1813, and his parents settled in York Township in 1832. He was one of fourteen children, all with names beginning with "Z". The house has a two-story rectangular main block with clapboard siding and a one-and-a-half story wing to the west with a recessed porch. Greek Revival details include a wide plain frieze, narrow corner boards and an entrance with a slightly gabled architrave, sidelights and shallow blind arches. A hipped roof topped by a rectangular belvedere reflects the Italian Villa style. The entrance nearly matches one on a five-bay house a mile south, probably by the same builder. The 1850 census valued Cook's real estate at $5,000, suggesting a substantial house. It was listed for its fine local blend of two styles.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an unusually fine local example of a house combining Greek Revival and Italian Villa features. It was built by Zimri Cook, an early York Township resident, one of fourteen children whose names all began with "Z". Its entrance closely matches that of a house a mile south on the Medina Road, probably by the same builder.
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 76001487, listed June 22, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 6999 Spieth Rd., Lester |
|---|---|
| County | Medina County |
| Listed | June 22, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001487 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival with Italianate (Italian Villa) elements |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, private residence in excellent condition; not accessible to the public. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.18120, -81.93997 (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 76001487.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138569935
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.