Clemons, Alexander, House
Also known as: Old Stone House Bed and Breakfast Inn
Why it's listed
Built in 1861 on a limestone shelf overlooking Lake Erie at Marblehead, this large hip-roofed house was constructed for Alexander Clemons from limestone taken from his own quarry. Its massing is Italianate, while the Tuscan-columned entrance with sidelights and transom and the lintels and sills on the windows draw on Greek Revival design. The facade stones were dressed and cut to fit together without mortar, and a porch stair carries a hand-cut limestone handrail in a rolling wave pattern. Clemons came to the area in 1817 and, with his brothers, began quarrying on Kelleys Island before moving operations to Marblehead, where the stone supplied canals, lighthouses and other public works. He also donated land and helped organize the Lakeside camp meeting, later a permanent community. After his death in 1886 the house passed to his youngest son, Ai. The house remains a dominant presence among the smaller wooden buildings nearby.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a finely crafted example of Italianate massing with Greek Revival details, notable for facade stones fitted together without mortar. It is also tied to Alexander Clemons, a quarry developer and businessman who helped found the Lakeside camp meeting community, and it reflects the economic and social history of the Marblehead/Lakeside area.
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 87001628, listed September 17, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 133 Clemons St., Marblehead |
|---|---|
| County | Ottawa County |
| Listed | September 17, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001628 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1861-1886 |
| Architect / builder | Alexander Clemons |
| Architectural style | Italianate; Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic and current use is a single dwelling; the form also lists it as a bed and breakfast inn under another name. A rear wing added in the 1930s holds a small apartment and garage, and the cupola was altered in 1970. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.54252, -82.72316 (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 87001628.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138646467
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.