Diver, John, House and Storebuilding
Why it's listed
Built around 1830 at the center of Deerfield, Ohio, this brick building combined a family home with a general store under one roof. Its two-story main block measures 40 by 45 feet, with walls 13 inches thick, a sandstone foundation and a gable roof carrying four chimneys, one of them a false chimney added for symmetry. Inside, a central hall with a curved cherry banister leads to matching Adam-style mantels, and the store retains its beaded paneling, a large maple counter and shelving. John Diver, whose family arrived in Deerfield in 1803, owned it from 1816 to 1835. Later owners included a carpenter who built bridges and houses, and a long-serving postmaster who ran the store. The store was operated separately from the building's owners until the 1950s. It is notable as the only large brick dwelling at the village center and a well-preserved example of late Federal vernacular style.
Significance in brief: The form describes it as the only large brick dwelling standing at Deerfield's village center and a well-preserved example of late Federal vernacular architecture. It was built by one of the township's original settlers. It is also important as a surviving structure in a village center whose other historic buildings have been altered, abandoned or crowded by modern development.
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 82003632, listed September 16, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 9465 Akron-Canfield Rd., Deerfield |
|---|---|
| County | Portage County |
| Listed | September 16, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003632 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific date ca. 1830) |
| Architectural style | Federal vernacular |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; condition marked good and altered, on its original site. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.02486, -81.04977 (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 82003632.
- 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.