Alling, Francis D., House
Why it's listed
Perched on a hill half a mile east of the Tallmadge Circle, this two-story frame house was built in 1875 by local contractor Francis D. Alling as his own home. Its wide eaves with carved brackets, bracketed front porch and slate hip roof are typical of Italianate design, but the three-story tower with a convex mansard roof and iron-crested viewing platform sets it apart. Inside, a winding staircase with a massive newel post, a plaster ceiling cartouche in the front parlor and marbelized metal mantels show a level of detail usually found in city homes of the period. Alling and his brother Winston built many houses around Tallmadge, and this is the best preserved of at least five Italianate residences by Francis, and the only one with a tower. The site also holds an 1824 bank barn built by Reuben Beach, whose earlier house Alling moved across East Avenue. The house was restored after neglect in the 1960s.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an outstanding example of an Italianate residence, distinguished by its tower with a mansard roof and elaborate interior detailing. It is also tied to Francis D. Alling, a successful local builder who constructed it as his own home. Of at least five Italianate houses Alling built in Tallmadge, it is the most impressive, best preserved and the only one with a tower.
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 87002093, listed November 30, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 323 East Ave., Tallmadge |
|---|---|
| County | Summit County |
| Listed | November 30, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87002093 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Francis Drake Alling |
| Architectural style | Italianate (bracketed style) with an Italian Villa-style tower |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence in good condition, restored by its owners after neglect in the 1960s; the form lists it as altered. |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.10173, -81.42842 (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 87002093.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5480664
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.