Saxton House
Why it's listed
Located at 331 South Market Street in Canton, Ohio, this brick house grew in three stages: a rear section from 1841, a three-story Second Empire block with a mansard roof added about 1865, and a later addition from about 1920. It was built for the Saxton family. John Saxton founded the Canton Repository, and his son James, a banker, added the front block. Ida Saxton was born here in 1847 and married William McKinley in 1871. The couple lived in the house from 1873 to 1892, and McKinley kept an office there. It is the last remaining residence in Canton tied to the future president, since his famous front porch house was demolished in the 1930s. Later changes included a two-story commercial front and interior alterations, though the third-floor ballroom retains much original woodwork. Plans called for restoring the exterior and reusing the interior as offices and a restaurant.
Significance in brief: It is argued to be the only remaining residence with direct ties to President William McKinley in his home town of Canton. It was the family home of his wife, Ida Saxton, and the couple lived there from 1873 to 1892. It was also built for and expanded by the Saxton family, prominent Canton newspaper and banking figures.
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 79001950, listed April 26, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 331 S. Market St., Canton |
|---|---|
| County | Stark County |
| Listed | April 26, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001950 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1841 & ca. 1865 |
| Architectural style | Second Empire (1865 front block) |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Unoccupied at the time of nomination. It had been significantly altered, including a later commercial front. Plans called for removing the additions, restoring the original exterior and converting the interior to offices and a restaurant. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.79655, -81.37563 (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 79001950.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138680168
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.