Fraser House
Also known as: Brown Reality Company Offices
Why it's listed
Built around 1909 on a spacious, tree-shaded lot at 681 Park Avenue West in Mansfield, this 2 1/2-story residence was constructed for A. Fraser, president of the Granite and Marble Company and an immigrant from Scotland. Walls of hard-fired yellow brick with thin mortar joints rise to a slate hip roof, with symmetrical front gables, a central tower, a classical front porch and robust classical ornament. Inside are a grand staircase lit by large stained glass windows, large parlors and finely carved oak woodwork. Ceiling murals, unique among Mansfield houses, have been restored. The design blends the irregular massing of the Queen Anne style with the symmetry of Colonial Revival, making it a transitional work. It is ranked among the finest houses of its period in the city, comparable to the R.B. Maxwell House. Now used as offices after careful restoration, it is cited as an outstanding case of adaptive re-use. A carriage barn behind it serves as a residence.
Significance in brief: It is presented as an example of transitional architecture combining the irregular forms of Queen Anne with the symmetry of Colonial Revival. It is described as exceptionally well crafted, with finely carved oak woodwork, and as one of the finest early twentieth-century residences in Mansfield. It is also the only Mansfield residence with ceiling murals, and it is an outstanding example of adaptive re-use.
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 83002033, listed July 8, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 681 Park Ave., W., Mansfield |
|---|---|
| County | Richland County |
| Listed | July 8, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83002033 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne with Colonial Revival influences |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Adapted for commercial use as offices; carefully restored and in excellent condition, with ceiling murals recently restored. A rear carriage barn is now used as a residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.75888, -82.54092 (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 83002033.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138662544
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.