Gayer, Jacob M., House
Also known as: Slanczka, Richard, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1872 at 406 Sumner Street in Akron, this two-story house was constructed by and for Jacob Gayer, a carpenter who learned the trade from his father and grandfather. Its plan and form are typical of workers' housing, with a gabled roof, shiplap siding and an irregular plan, yet it carries far more detail than most. Two matching porches have turned posts, spindlework friezes and fret-sawn brackets, and a three-sided bay window anchors the south front. Inside, unpainted cherry, walnut, oak and butternut woodwork survives, along with a slate mantel painted to imitate marble. Much of the woodwork was machine-made, reflecting Eastlake influence. The house is tied to the Gayer family, who reportedly built some 300 houses in a laborer neighborhood shaped by Akron's post-Civil War industrialization. Most of that neighborhood has been lost or altered, and the university demolished many Gayer-built houses in the 1960s. Few comparable examples remain intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a good example of late nineteenth-century working-class housing in Akron. It also shows an unusual degree of detail and variety of materials, including an ornate porch, interior hardwood woodwork and a faux marble mantle. It is an intact remnant of the building work of the Gayer family, who helped develop south central Akron.
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 84003442, listed October 18, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 406 Sumner St., Akron |
|---|---|
| County | Summit County |
| Listed | October 18, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003442 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific date 1872) |
| Architect / builder | Jacob, Gayer & Gayer |
| Architectural style | Transition from Italianate to Eastlake; vernacular interpretation |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; condition listed as excellent, altered, on its original site. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.07246, -81.51417 (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.
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 84003442.
- 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.