Griffin, A. B.,-O. H. Griffin House
Also known as: Gladys Mileski House
Why it's listed
This two-story, gable-front timber frame house at 409 South Walnut Street in Ravenna, Ohio, was built in 1843 by cabinetmaker A.B. Griffin. It shows typical Greek Revival features, including a molded entablature, end returns, and an entablature hood over a six-panel door, and it represents a common house type of the Western Reserve in that period. A one-and-one-half-story rear section on five levels held Griffin's cabinet shop. Griffin is regarded as perhaps the most outstanding cabinetmaker of early Ravenna, and his work was shown at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition and is preserved by the Portage County Historical Society. In 1847 he sold the house to his brother, O.H. Griffin, also a cabinetmaker, and built another house on the adjacent lot. The house stayed in the O.H. Griffin family until about 1930, later fell into disrepair, and was then restored. It is valued for its little-altered condition and its fine interior craftsmanship.
Significance in brief: The 1987 amended statement says the house is a fine example of Greek Revival architecture in the Western Reserve of northeast Ohio. It is also significant for preserving the work of A.B. Griffin, a local craftsman and perhaps Ravenna's most outstanding early cabinetmaker. It retains finer interior craftsmanship than the neighboring Griffin house.
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 85000485, listed March 7, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 409 S. Walnut St., Ravenna |
|---|---|
| County | Portage County |
| Listed | March 7, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85000485 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | A.B. Griffin |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as well maintained with very little alteration; restored after a period of disrepair. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.15443, -81.23997 (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 85000485.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138654067
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.