Davey, John, House
Also known as: Hershey,Paul,Residence
Why it's listed
This brick house at 338 Woodard in Kent, Ohio, was the home of John Davey, born in 1846 and known as the "Father of Tree Surgery." Davey moved to Kent in 1881 and took charge of Standing Rock Cemetery, where he laid out the grounds and planted trees. There he conceived the idea of saving trees through a curative process. His books, beginning with The Tree Doctor in 1901, led to the Davey Tree Company, described as the first nationwide organization built on ethical and professional standards in the field. Kent's nickname, "The Tree City," is attributed to his contribution. The house is also an example of Second Empire design in the Western Reserve. It is T-shaped, two stories tall, with a dormered mansard roof, molded segmental stone pediments over the front door and windows, and pointed-arch upper windows. A later porch and a gable-roofed rear addition have altered the original form. The house sits on a cut sandstone foundation atop a gentle hill.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a very good example of Second Empire architecture in the Western Reserve. It was also the home of John Davey, known as the "Father of Tree Surgery," whose work led to the Davey Tree Company and Kent's nickname "The Tree City."
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 75001524, listed May 29, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 338 Woodard St., Kent |
|---|---|
| County | Portage County |
| Listed | May 29, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001524 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, altered, on its original site; in use as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 41.15879, -81.36514 (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 75001524.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6228634
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.