Cofta, Albert, Farmstead
Also known as: Hs-519; Hs-520; Hs-521; Hs-522; Hs-523; Hs-524; Hs-525; Tract #108-21, Ohio Historic Inventory #SUM202503
Why it's listed
Albert Cofta Farmstead sits on the south side of Brush Road in Richfield Township, inside Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The core is a two-story, wood-framed gabled-ell farmhouse built around 1910, with drop lap siding, a sandstone foundation and two later one-story additions. Around it are a barn from about 1908 with a concrete block addition from about 1947, a granary, corn crib, milk house, hog house, garage, a well with a sandstone walkway, and a fallow field. In all, twelve resources contribute to the property. The farmstead is recognized for its link to agriculture in the Cuyahoga Valley. During the first half of the twentieth century the Cofta family shifted to dairy production to supply the growing cities of Akron and Cleveland. The layout of house, outbuildings and fields still shows how the farm worked, and the buildings reflect local vernacular construction. The property is currently vacant, and its setting has changed little since the farmhouse was built.
Significance in brief: It is nominated under Criterion A for agriculture as an example of a Cuyahoga Valley farmstead of the early twentieth century. The Cofta family diversified into dairy production to serve the growing urban markets of Akron and Cleveland. The spatial arrangement of house, outbuildings and fields conveys a working agricultural unit, and the buildings show local vernacular construction traditions.
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 04001214, listed November 4, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2966 Brush Rd., Richfield |
|---|---|
| County | Summit County |
| Listed | November 4, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04001214 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1908-1947 |
| Architectural style | Other: gabled-ell (Folk Victorian vernacular, with subtle Queen Anne influences) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed current use is vacant (not in use); the outbuildings are described as in good condition and have received periodic maintenance and interim roof stabilization. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 41.25361, -81.61542 (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 04001214.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138748943
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.