Kent, Zeno, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1821 on Aurora-Hudson Road in Aurora Township, this 5-bay, 2-story frame house with a 1-story rear wing brings Connecticut colonial farmhouse design to Ohio's Western Reserve. It rests on a dressed sandstone foundation and has a low-pitched slate roof, a Doric-pilastered front doorway with a hand-carved sunburst, and a rear kitchen with a brick cooking fireplace and oven. Inside, a center hall and paired parlors are finished with wood panelling that grows plainer toward the back. Its builder, Zeno Kent, born in Connecticut in 1786, was a carpenter, teacher, merchant, tanner, mill operator and later bank president. He built the Ravenna courthouse and bought the land that became the village of Kent. The house is considered one of only two of its kind in Portage County. It is valued for its surviving original material, especially the interior panelling, and as a model for later builders.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a true transplant of a Connecticut colonial farmhouse and one of only two of its kind in Portage County. It is described as a forerunner of Greek Revival and later Victorian styles. Despite alterations, much original material survives, especially the interior panelling, and the house served as a model for later craftsmen. Zeno Kent was also a prominent builder, businessman and banker.
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 73001518, listed April 23, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2.5 mi. SW of Aurora on Aurora-Hudson Rd., Aurora |
|---|---|
| County | Portage County |
| Listed | April 23, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001518 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1821 (19th Century) |
| Architectural style | Connecticut colonial farmhouse, described as a forerunner of Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in fair condition, altered, and unoccupied with preservation work in progress; acquisition by the Aurora Historical Society for restoration was anticipated. A later grant addressed roof and gutter replacement. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 41.28409, -81.36303 (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 73001518.
- 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.