Foster-Gram House
Also known as: Stonehenge
Why it's listed
This stone farmhouse on Langrum Road, South Bass Island, was completed around 1872-1873 on a 15-acre farm that once held a vineyard, orchard and wine press house. The L-shaped Upright and Wing house is built of grout and Put-in-Bay dolomite laid as uncoursed rubble, a material found on only a few Lake Erie islands. A stone press house, now a cottage, stands nearby, along with a later barn that does not contribute to the property's significance. The farm reflects the small family wineries that made the Lake Erie islands a major wine-producing region from the 1860s into the early 1900s. James W. Foster, a carpenter and boat builder, acquired the land and likely built the press house before his death in 1871. The house was possibly built by William and Frank Wild, though other sources name different builders. Later owners included the Gram family and a Cleveland orthodontist. The buildings have changed little since the 1870s and are open for tours.
Significance in brief: The farmstead is argued to be significant under Criterion A for its link to the Lake Erie islands wine-growing industry, as a typical small family vineyard farm. It is also significant under Criterion C as an example of vernacular Upright and Wing architecture built of native grout and dolomite, a rare material on the island.
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 92000175, listed March 19, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Langrum Rd., South Bass Island, Put-In-Bay |
|---|---|
| County | Ottawa County |
| Listed | March 19, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000175 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1870 - 1935 |
| Architect / builder | William Wild ? |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century; Upright and Wing (vernacular) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Open to public tours as a restoration in progress project; the press house has been converted to a cottage. |
| Acreage | 5.4 |
| Coordinates | 41.64532, -82.82028 (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 92000175.
- 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.