Beebe, Horace Y., House
Why it's listed
Set above a series of three landscaped terraces about two miles northwest of downtown Ravenna, this two-story Greek Revival house gave rise to its name, The Terrace. The wood frame main block is a narrow gabled rectangle with clapboard siding, a full classical pediment on the front gable, and six-over-six windows. One-story wings flank it, and a porch with fluted Tuscan columns, probably added around 1915, wraps the front and sides. Inside, the finish is simple and classical, with a fluted fireplace mantel. The house was the estate of Horace Y. Beebe, who lived there from 1852 until his death in 1888. Beebe was an abolitionist, Republican, Odd Fellows leader and county official. As a delegate to the 1860 Republican convention, he changed his vote on the third ballot to help secure Abraham Lincoln's nomination. In February 1861 Lincoln's inaugural train stopped in Ravenna to pay Beebe a political courtesy, and the house became known as The Lincoln House.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its association with Horace Y. Beebe, an Ohio abolitionist and Republican who, as a delegate to the 1860 Republican convention, helped assure Abraham Lincoln's nomination. Lincoln's inaugural train stopped in Ravenna on February 15, 1861, as a courtesy to Beebe. It is also called one of the finest examples of pre-Civil War architecture in Ravenna, with a landscaped site above graded terraces.
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 83002022, listed June 16, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 6538 Cleveland Rd., Ravenna |
|---|---|
| County | Portage County |
| Listed | June 16, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83002022 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1852-1888 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival with Neo-Classical revival veranda |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; the form notes some deterioration of exterior wooden detail, especially the porch cornice and balustrade, and three brick chimneys in disrepair. |
| Acreage | 2.4 |
| Coordinates | 41.16872, -81.25522 (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 83002022.
- 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.