Kelly, Amos, House
Why it's listed
Built between 1873 and 1876 by Amos Kelly, this frame house in Cambridge Springs, Crawford County, is a large Italianate residence. Its rectangular plan measures 95 by 60 feet, with a low gable roof, wide bracketed eaves, a dentilled cornice and a square cupola over the front entrance. The house sits on a cut stone foundation and has elongated one-over-one windows with arched heads and hood moldings. Inside, black walnut and oak appear in the floors, woodwork, wainscoting and stairs. The curved front stair rail is said to have taken three months to shape by hand. Ceiling castings, a white marble fireplace, original shutters and etched glass door panels bearing the initials A. K. survive. Kelly was a farmer and sawmill owner who, with his brother John, opened the first bank in Cambridge Borough in 1877. The house is regarded as one of the best preserved large mansions in a community that grew around its mineral springs health resort.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes it as an extremely well preserved example of the Italianate style, remarkable for its escape from remodeling. Its original woodwork, etched glass, ceiling castings and interior fittings remain in place. It is presented as a showcase of a residence of a prosperous local citizen of the late 1800s, and as one of the best preserved large mansion-type houses in Cambridge Springs.
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 80003477, listed July 23, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 325 S. Main St., Cambridge Springs |
|---|---|
| County | Crawford County |
| Listed | July 23, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003477 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1873-1876 |
| Architect / builder | Amos Kelly (builder) |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Original interior fittings and etched glass remain; a one-story rear addition and garage were added in the early 1900s. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.80163, -80.05872 (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 80003477.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4747897
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.