Fowler Center Historic District
Why it's listed
Fowler Center is a rural crossroads in Trumbull County, Ohio, where State Routes 305 and 193 meet beside a village green. Samuel Fowler of Westfield, Massachusetts, bought the township in 1798, and the land at the center was set aside as a public green, following New England custom. Eight buildings around the green are included, and six of them contribute to the district's character. They include the Italianate Baldwin house, the brick Italianate Butts house, the Stewart house (once the Powers Hotel), the 1839 Silliman house, a late 19th-century brick commercial building, and a Town Hall from the 1850s. The Town Hall is regarded as the oldest in Trumbull County still serving its original purpose. Two altered buildings on the west side are non-contributing but help enclose the green. Slow growth and the lack of a railroad stop helped preserve the setting. The district was recognized for its architecture and for the planning ideas behind the green.
Significance in brief: The district is significant for architecture and community planning. The green reflects New England town planning as practiced by Western Reserve settlers, and it is one of the best preserved village greens in Trumbull County. The surrounding buildings show Italianate, Greek Revival, Gothic Revival and Victorian commercial styles, and they keep the character of a rural 19th-century crossroads community.
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 85002921, listed October 10, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly area around Fowler Twp. Village Green at OH 305 and OH 193, Fowler |
|---|---|
| County | Trumbull County |
| Listed | October 10, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002921 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1830-1900 |
| Architect / builder | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Italianate, with eclectic Greek Revival and Gothic Revival influences, and a Victorian commercial building |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The Baldwin house is described as vacant for several years. The Town Hall is still in its original use, and the other buildings are described as occupied or in use. |
| Acreage | 10 |
| Coordinates | 41.31108, -80.65568 (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 85002921.
- 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.