Crafts William H., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1882 on a hilltop above Mantua's commercial center, this large brick house in the Second Empire style is the most imposing and best-preserved example of that style in the village. It has a mansard roof with a double-bracketed, dentilled frieze, gabled dormers, a two-story polygonal bay, and tall segmental-arched windows with hood moldings. A later veranda was designed to match the original eaves, and the stone entrance arch is dated 1883. Inside are fourteen rooms with woodwork of walnut, curly maple and oak, plus stone fireplaces in the library and parlor. The house was the home of William H. Crafts (1849-1928), who bought calfskins across Ohio, co-founded the bank Crafts, Hine and Company in 1885, helped build the village's first Protestant church, and served three terms in the Ohio Legislature from 1899. His house is one of two that command the hilltop; the other belonged to his banking partner Horace L. Hine.
Significance in brief: It was the home of William H. Crafts, a prominent 19th-century Mantua businessman and politician who was a calfskin buyer, banker, postmaster, churchman and Ohio legislator. It is described as the most imposing and best-preserved Second Empire house in the village. It is also said to embody the distinctive characteristics of a type and period.
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 82003634, listed April 29, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 4619 W. Prospect St., Mantua |
|---|---|
| County | Portage County |
| Listed | April 29, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003634 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in excellent condition, on its original site, and altered; used as a private residence and for commercial purposes. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.28219, -81.22599 (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 82003634.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138653609
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.