Upson House
Why it's listed
Built between about 1880 and 1900, this 2½-story brick house at 234 Park Avenue West in Mansfield, Ohio, is an example of Queen Anne design. It rests on an ashlar stone foundation and has a complex hip roof, rock-faced sandstone lintels and sills, and tall corbeled chimneys on either side. Wood trim is used extensively. The front porch has spindle work, turned posts and a carved pediment, and the large attic gable holds a group of four windows in what was once a ballroom. A two-story brick bay window projects from the west side, and the interior retains elaborate woodwork typical of the period. The house was listed because its decorative features distinguish it from other Queen Anne homes in the city, and because it reflects the time when Park Avenue became Mansfield's leading residential street. It sits back from the street among other well-kept older residences and has a four-car garage behind.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as a well-preserved Queen Anne residence whose decorative features set it apart from others in the city. Its scrollwork porch, exposed wood-frame gable panels, corbeled chimneys and projecting side porch are named as distinguishing elements. It also represents the period when Park Avenue was becoming Mansfield's prime residential neighborhood.
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 83002051, listed July 8, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 234 Park Ave., W., Mansfield |
|---|---|
| County | Richland County |
| Listed | July 8, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83002051 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1880-1900 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Exterior and interior condition rated very good; the survey lists present use as commercial, and a four-car garage stands at the rear. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.75401, -82.51729 (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 83002051.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138663345
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.