Brown, Jim, Tavern
Why it's listed
Built in 1825 or 1826 by James "Jim" Brown, this two-story frame building in the village of Boston, Summit County, began as a store-house on the west side of the Cuyahoga River, where Brown traded with William G. Taylor of Cleveland and also kept a tavern. Several years later Brown sold his goods, moved the building across a bridge to the east side of the river and refitted it as a hotel. He sold it to Henry Wadhams in the winter of 1837-38. The Federal-style building has an unusual rhomboid plan, an ashlar stone foundation, clapboard siding and a gable roof. Pilasters divide it into three by four bays, and an elliptical fanlight highlights the pediment. An attempt at restoration removed the pilasters and replaced the siding on the west elevation, but much classical ornamentation remains. It stands beside the dry Ohio Canal bed, recalling its function as a hotel for canal travelers. The building is vacant and in poor exterior condition.
Significance in brief: The building is an unusual rhomboid-shaped structure that served as a general store, tavern and hotel, and it sits beside the dry Ohio Canal bed, recalling its role as a hotel for canal travelers. Much of its delicate classical ornamentation survives despite numerous alterations. It is also tied to the early history of trade along the Cuyahoga River.
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 79000300, listed December 11, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Boston Mills Rd., Boston |
|---|---|
| County | Summit County |
| Listed | December 11, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000300 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | James ("Jim") Brown, builder |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant, in poor exterior condition, and described as altered and moved; a restoration attempt removed pilasters from the west elevation. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Boston Mills Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.26331, -81.55852 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 79000300.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q96781558
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.