Munson, Judge Albert, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1877 at 231 East Washington Street in Medina, this two-story wood frame house shows the Italianate style through its wide bracketed eaves, low hip roof, small side porch with bracketed columns, and two-over-two windows with decorative shutters. Its siding and other exterior materials are original, and the interior plan is intact, with original graining on the first-floor woodwork and period furnishings in the front parlor and kitchen. Albert Munson, born in 1829, moved in after becoming Medina County probate judge in 1878. He helped found the county Republican Party, served in the Ohio legislature, and managed William McKinley's 1884 campaign to return to Congress. Munson and his son also ran a prosperous hardware business, and the family was locally known for spiritualism. After the death of his daughter, the Medina County Historical Society acquired the house and now operates it as a museum of county memorabilia, Civil War pieces, clothing and farm tools.
Significance in brief: The house was the home of Albert Munson, a Medina County probate judge, merchant, and pivotal figure in the Ohio Republican Party who managed William McKinley's 1884 congressional campaign. It is also virtually unaltered and one of the best preserved houses of its type in Medina.
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 80003156, listed November 26, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 231 E. Washington St., Medina |
|---|---|
| County | Medina County |
| Listed | November 26, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003156 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Operated as a local history museum by the Medina County Historical Society; condition listed as excellent, with original floor plan intact and some museum-related alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.13840, -81.86131 (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 80003156.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138570043
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.