Brown-Bender Farm (Boundary Increase)
Also known as: NPS Tract # 121-062; List of Classified Structures HS-318; See
Why it's listed
On a wooded hilltop above the Cuyahoga River valley in Summit County, Ohio, the Brown/Bender Farm includes a c. 1840 Greek Revival farmhouse, a raised bank barn built in 1886, and a grave marker, all listed earlier in 1979. The boundary increase adds a c. 1930 glass greenhouse, an orchard and vineyard on the hillside, and about 35 acres of river-bottom fields. Census records show the farm raising corn, oats and potatoes in 1850 and producing cheese from a larger dairy herd by 1870. Andrew Bender bought it in 1907, and his son Earva later turned it to truck farming, growing sweet corn, tomatoes, watermelons and pumpkins for wholesale and retail markets as Akron grew. The Benders' roadside vegetable stand became a local landmark by the 1940s. The farm is significant for agriculture and illustrates the valley's move from dairy and grain to market produce. A modern garage and four oil wells are noncontributing.
Significance in brief: The boundary increase adds Criterion A significance in agriculture to a property first listed for architecture and folklore. The farm shows two periods of Cuyahoga Valley farming: dairy and grain production in the 19th century, then a shift to market produce and truck farming. The Bender family was among the few valley farms to make that transition successfully.
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 93000076, listed March 12, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3491 Akron--Peninsula Rd., Cuyahoga Falls |
|---|---|
| County | Summit County |
| Listed | March 12, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000076 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1840-1930 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current use is listed as domestic, single dwelling. Surrounding fields are partly still cultivated. |
| Acreage | 37.5 |
| Within district | Valley Railway Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.18450, -81.57417 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 93000076.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.