Raymond, Frank Mason, House
Also known as: The Tudor House; Henry Ball House; Franklin Park Civic Center
Why it's listed
Completed in 1929 beside Turkeyfoot Lake south of Akron, this 20-room Tudor Revival house was built as a wedding present for Frank Mason Raymond from his grandfather, Frank Mason, a senior executive of the B.F. Goodrich Company. Akron architects Albert H. Good and Edwin D. Wagner designed it. The exterior combines Flemish bond brick, half-timbering with stucco infill, grouped casement windows, a slate roof with prominent cross gables, and three large stone and brick chimneys with chimney pots. Inside, arched doorways, a carved wood staircase, a Tudor arch fireplace with oak paneling, and exposed beams survive, along with a butler's pantry and original bathroom tilework. The grounds hold a stone grotto and a tennis court, both contributing, and a later garage that does not contribute. The state acquired the house in 1974, and since 1977 Franklin Township has operated it as a civic center. It was listed for its architecture.
Significance in brief: The house is significant under Criterion C as a distinctive example of Tudor Revival architecture that shows most of the style's defining elements. These include an asymmetrical plan, Flemish bond brick, half-timbering, a stone-trimmed gabled entry, and massive chimneys with separate chimney pots. The interior also retains much of its original Tudor character.
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 95000500, listed April 20, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 655 Latham Ln., Akron |
|---|---|
| County | Summit County |
| Listed | April 20, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000500 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1929 |
| Architect / builder | Good, Albert H.; and Wagner, Edwin D. |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Since 1977 the house has been leased to and operated by Franklin Township as a civic center; the state Department of Natural Resources owns it. |
| Coordinates | 40.96656, -81.54496 (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 95000500.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5488208
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.