Olin, Arvin, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1835, this two-story brick house at a rural crossroads north of Kent was the home of Arvin Olin, who was born in Vermont in 1797, lived in New York for years, and moved to Franklin Township in 1834. He lived in the house until his death in 1870 and served nine years as local Justice of the Peace. The house has a symmetrical five-bay facade, a central entry with sidelights and a semi-elliptical transom, stone sills, brick lintels and a cornice with shaped dentils and returns. Early twentieth-century changes include Colonial Revival side porches, replacement windows, a rebuilt rear wing and conversion into two apartments. Two original fireplace mantels and the fluted front entry surround survive inside. It was listed for its association with the township's early settlement and as its only example of Federal style architecture. The property is now vacant, and no outbuildings remain.
Significance in brief: It is argued to be the earliest and most intact representative of Franklin Township's early settlement, built for prominent early settler Arvin Olin. It is also described as the only example of Federal style architecture in the township, and it keeps enough integrity despite alterations to qualify for its architecture.
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 95001157, listed October 20, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1425 Ravenna Rd., Kent |
|---|---|
| County | Portage County |
| Listed | October 20, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95001157 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1835-1870 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as vacant/not in use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.18381, -81.34226 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 95001157.
- 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.