Barber, O. C., Barn No. 1
.jpg){kind=link}
Why it's listed
Built in 1909, this cattle barn at 115 Third Street in Barberton was the first structure on the Anna Dean Farm, the 3,000-acre estate of match manufacturer O.C. Barber. The building measures 285 by 125 feet and is made of concrete block and red brick reinforced with steel. Three silo towers with conical red tile roofs rise above it: two 40-foot towers on the west side, with a two-story workers' living area between them, and a taller 60-foot arcaded tower on the east. A red tile gable roof, dormers and four cupolas top the main block, and the interior is one large room with a high hardwood-beamed loft. Barber founded Barberton after a tax dispute with Akron. After his death in 1920 the farm was divided, other barns burned, and the mansion was razed in 1965. The barn was listed to draw attention to one of the few surviving Barber buildings and to encourage a new use, since the owners had considered demolition.
Significance in brief: The barn is tied to Ohio Columbus Barber, the match manufacturer who founded Barberton and built the Anna Dean Farm as a showplace estate. It was the first structure built on the farm and one of the few Barber buildings left. The nomination also cites its architecture, a mix of French Colonial features and Mrs. Barber's own ideas, and a later federal letter calls barns of this scale rare in the United States.
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 73001538, listed February 28, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 115 3rd St., Barberton |
|---|---|
| County | Summit County |
| Listed | February 28, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001538 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1909 |
| Architectural style | Combination of French Colonial characteristics and Mrs. Barber's own ideas |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good and altered. The barn is rented as storage and used as a warehouse and district offices. Lightning has dislodged roof tiles and some arches in the east silo are crumbling. The owners had considered razing it for a senior citizens high-rise. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Within district | Anna-Dean Farm |
| Coordinates | 41.00731, -81.59346 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 73001538.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7072093
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.