Kearns, George and Edward, Houses
Why it's listed
Two houses on Luck Avenue in Zanesville, Ohio, record the family and fortunes of a local glass-making dynasty. The brick house at 320 Luck Avenue, dated to about 1885, was built for George W. Kearns, a Pittsburgh native who came to Zanesville in 1842 and spent over sixty years in glass production. It is L-shaped with an Italianate character, a decorated porch, and a walnut and oak spiral stair. A barn with a cupola stands nearby. The wood frame house at 306 Luck Avenue was built in 1891 for his son, C. Edward Kearns. It shows Queen Anne form with Eastlake details, a three-story tower, half-timbered gables set with colored glass, and stained glass windows that were probably made by the family firm. A fireplace with Zanesville-made Mosaic Tile survives inside. Together the houses illustrate the wealth that glass manufacturing brought to the city and the architecture favored by its business families in the late 1800s.
Significance in brief: The houses are nominated as residences of early Zanesville glass manufacturers and as well-preserved examples of late nineteenth century elite architecture. The 1891 house is an intact Queen Anne building with Eastlake influence, while the c. 1885 house draws its character from the Victorian Italianate. They are tied to Zanesville's glass manufacturing heritage.
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 79001917, listed February 2, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 306 and 320 Luck Ave., Zanesville |
|---|---|
| County | Muskingum County |
| Listed | February 2, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001917 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne with Eastlake influence (306 Luck Avenue); Victorian Italianate (320 Luck Avenue) |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Both houses are listed as occupied private residences in good condition and altered. The 320 Luck Avenue house was remodeled as apartments in 1936. |
| Acreage | 7 |
| Within district | Muskingum River Navigation Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.93517, -82.01784 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 79001917.
- 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.