Sharon Center Public Square Historic District
Why it's listed
Sharon Center's public square is a diamond-shaped green of about four acres where Ridge Road and Sharon Copley Road meet in Medina County, Ohio. The land was deeded to the township trustees in three grants between 1831 and 1833, and in 1888 the roads that crossed it were rerouted so it could become a village park. A stone and bronze memorial from 1919 stands at its center. Six historic buildings face the square: the Greek Revival Universalist church, built 1851-1852 and now the town hall; St. Paul's Lutheran Church of 1888-1889; the c. 1831 Milton Rudesill House; the Italianate S. A. Case House, remodeled c. 1900-1910; the Park Griswold House of 1900; and the c. 1911 bank building, now a post office. The district was recognized because the square and its buildings preserve the layout and character of a nineteenth-century Midwestern village with New England roots. Three altered or newer buildings nearby were excluded.
Significance in brief: The district represents the historic development of Sharon Center, a small community that still looks like a rural village. The square reflects two stages of American town planning: a central ground reserved for public use in 1831-1833, a New England tradition, and its conversion to a park in 1888. The surrounding buildings are good examples of Greek Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival and other styles.
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 80003157, listed October 3, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | OH 94 and OH 162, Sharon Center |
|---|---|
| County | Medina County |
| Listed | October 3, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003157 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1831-1911 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Italianate, Stick, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Progressive |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The square serves as a park. The Universalist church building has served as the Sharon Town Hall since 1938 and is used almost daily for community activities. The former bank building houses the post office. |
| Acreage | 6 |
| Coordinates | 41.09909, -81.73570 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 80003157.
- 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.