Cranz, William and Eugene, Farm
Also known as: NPS Tract #120-55; List of Classified Structures HS-337
Why it's listed
Set along Ira Road in Bath Township, this farm district covers about 41 acres of open fields, farm buildings and the historic Ira Cemetery. The farmhouse dates to the 1830s, when Lewis Hammond, son of an early valley settler, introduced Shorthorn cattle and Merino sheep to the area. William F. Cranz bought the farm in 1864 and built a bank barn in 1885. His son Eugene F. Cranz later became known for conservation work, promoting reforestation, fencing livestock out of woodlots and exchanging nut tree grafts; a hickory variety bears his name. His farm was dedicated Ohio Tree Farm Number 81 in 1949. The property includes a Sweitzer forebay barn, a second bank barn, a carriage house, chicken house, cider house and smokehouse. The house was remodeled in the 1920s with Craftsman and Prairie-influenced features such as paired windows and large porch columns. The farm is listed for its agricultural history, its association with Eugene Cranz and its architecture.
Significance in brief: The farm is significant for its role in the agricultural development of the Cuyahoga Valley, covering the Cranz family's ownership from 1864 to the 1930s. Eugene F. Cranz was an agricultural innovator and conservation advocate, an early Ohio reforestation promoter whose farm became Ohio Tree Farm Number 81. The farmstead buildings, including a Sweitzer forebay barn and a farmhouse remodeled in Craftsman style, illustrate typical farmstead architecture.
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 93000078, listed March 12, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2401 Ira Rd., Peninsula |
|---|---|
| County | Summit County |
| Listed | March 12, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000078 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1860-1930 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements: Bungalow/Craftsman |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the federal government (National Park Service since 1976); the house is still used as a single dwelling and the farm continues to include agricultural processing and cemetery uses. |
| Acreage | 41.3 |
| Within district | Valley Railway Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.18778, -81.59201 (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 93000078.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q100606219
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.