Building at 252-254 Park Avenue West
Also known as: Kerr Flats
Why it's listed
Built around 1912 on Park Avenue West in Mansfield, Ohio, this two-and-a-half-story wood-frame building was originally a duplex apartment and was known in 1913 as the Kerr Flatts. It rests on an Ashland stone foundation under a complex hip roof. A front porch with two large Ionic columns, bay windows on the east and west sides, dentil work at the eaves and decorative oval windows on the second story mark its Colonial Revival design. The columns rise two full stories but are thinner than a strictly classical model would call for, and this treatment is not found on other Colonial Revival buildings in Mansfield. The building is also tied to Charles K. King, its first resident and the leading executive of the Ohio Brass Company, a major local manufacturer. King later moved farther west on the avenue and created the Kingwood Center estate. The building is now used commercially and its exterior is in very good condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant for its association with Charles K. King, the leading executive of the Ohio Brass Company, who lived there before creating Kingwood Center. It is also a distinctive Colonial Revival apartment building with thin two-story Ionic columns and cameo windows not found on other examples in Mansfield.
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 84003802, listed February 2, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 252-254 Park Ave., W., Mansfield |
|---|---|
| County | Richland County |
| Listed | February 2, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003802 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Exterior condition is listed as very good; the building is in commercial use, with a paved front yard and a two-car garage. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.75909, -82.52452 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 84003802.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138663573
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.