Hershey, J., Residence
Also known as: Reinbolt,James,Office
Why it's listed
Built around 1895 in the last decade of the 19th century, this two-and-a-half-story house on Cleveland-Massillon Road in Bath Township was the home of J. Hershey, a local merchant remembered for his frugality. He reportedly slept in a downstairs bedroom to guard his property from thieves. The wood-frame house has an L-shaped plan, a stone foundation, a gable roof with shingles, and shiplap and shingle siding. Its projecting front gable has a flared, shingled surface and a small architraved window. An elaborate double-story porch has two entrances, spindled posts, railings, a frieze and carved brackets. Interior woodwork includes cherry and oak. Two later additions extend off the rear. The property was recognized as an excellent example of Queen Anne architecture and as a good example of adaptive use, since the former residence now serves as an office. Large trees surround it, a garage sits at the rear, and it stands close to a divided highway.
Significance in brief: The inventory describes the house as an excellent example of the Queen Anne style. It is also a good example of adaptive use, with a residence converted to an office. It is further tied to J. Hershey, a local merchant noted for his frugality.
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 79002802, listed June 11, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 286 Cleveland-Massilon Rd., Ghent |
|---|---|
| County | Summit County |
| Listed | June 11, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002802 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as an office; interior condition good, exterior very good. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.14364, -81.63747 (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 79002802.
- 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.