Crystal Lake Stock Farm
Also known as: Thomas House
Why it's listed
Near Ravenna in Portage County, Ohio, the Crystal Lake Stock Farm centers on a 2-1/2 story Queen Anne farmhouse built about 1884 by William J. Hayes, a Cleveland banker and manufacturer. Hayes moved his summer-home log cabin, probably built in the first decade of the nineteenth century, to the farm site and built the new house around it. The log section now serves as the central parlor, with exposed beams, plank walls, pine floors and a brick hearth. Elsewhere the house has elaborate trim, grained woodwork, painted tile fireplaces, a wraparound porch with a turret, and an oriel window. A carriage house with a duck pin bowling alley and a corn crib also survive. In the 1890s the farm raised Holstein cattle and produced about 1,000 pounds of milk daily and 200-250 pounds of butter weekly, making it among the area's largest dairies. It was sold in 1925 and restored in 1941.
Significance in brief: The farmhouse is significant architecturally as an elaborate Queen Anne farmhouse that incorporates an early nineteenth century 1-1/2 story log house in its center. It is also significant for its association with late nineteenth century dairy production in Ohio, when the farm was one of the largest dairy operations around Ravenna.
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 86000698, listed April 10, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 4655 Hayes Rd., Ravena |
|---|---|
| County | Portage County |
| Listed | April 10, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000698 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | unknown (built by William J. Hayes, c. 1884) |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; condition listed as excellent, with the interior described as very well preserved. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 41.13743, -81.22621 (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 86000698.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138653681
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.