Buckland, Ralph P., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1853, this two-story brick house on South Park Avenue in Fremont, Ohio, sits on a stone foundation and measures about thirty-five feet square. Its design falls between the Federal and Greek Revival styles, with six-over-six windows, pilastered walls, a decorated frieze, a hipped roof with a bracketed deck, and an entry framed by fluted columns with modified Corinthian capitals. It was the home of Ralph P. Buckland, who practiced law in Fremont, served in the Ohio Senate, led the 72nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, rose to major general, and served two terms in Congress. He also practiced law for two years with Rutherford B. Hayes. The building is now a church, so the first floor was opened into a sanctuary and a rear addition was built in the late 1950s. Its listing rests on its link to Buckland, its transitional architecture, and its successful adaptation to a new use.
Significance in brief: The house was the home of Ralph P. Buckland, a lawyer, state senator, Civil War brigadier and major general, and congressman. It is also an excellent example of transitional architecture between Federal and Greek Revival styles, showing the tenacity of the Federal style. It illustrates the successful reuse of an old building while keeping its essential architectural character.
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 74001620, listed December 17, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 300 S. Park Ave., Fremont |
|---|---|
| County | Sandusky County |
| Listed | December 17, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001620 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1853) |
| Architectural style | Transitional between Federal and Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In good condition and occupied as a church; the interior is highly modified and a late 1950s brick rear addition was built. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 41.34381, -83.11782 (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 74001620.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138667271
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.