Center Street Historic District (Ashland, Ohio)
Center Street Historic District is a historic district in Ashland, Ohio, United States. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 with a boundary increase that took place in 1992, Center Street features Victorian homes built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The district is established between Town Creek and Vernon Avenue on the east side of Center Street and between the theater and Morgan Avenue on the west side. Once known as Huron Road, Center Street runs current with Ohio State Route 511 and Ohio State Route 60, which  travels the entire length of Ohio. The Center Street Historic District Association is the homeowners' association for the district. From its inception, Center Street intended to be a street of significant homes. A June 22, 1859 "Ashland Union" article says:But the “star of empire” is establishing its head quarters [sic] in South Ashland. The grading of the principal street under the direction of the Supervisor, Mr. Hildebrand, has progressed sufficiently far to convince every one [sic], that, when completed, and when the shade trees which, by next year, will line both sides of the street, shall have had time  to accumulate a foliage, there will be no town or city in the State any portion of which will present a more attractive appearance than that of Centre street in South Ashland.Center Street fulfilled its potential, for prosperous businessmen, industrialists, bankers, politicians, and physicians built their significant homes on it. Since these homes were built between 1850 and 1920, a variety of architectural styles are represented. The view of these houses remains much the same as when most of the homes were completed. At one time almost all of the Center Street houses had fences with gates that were  kept shut to keep out the swine that were allowed to roam the city and the cattle that were driven along the street. In 1860 Ashland passed a hog ordinance and a cow ordinance in 1867 to prevent these animals from wandering in town. During a city council meeting on April 30, 1894, R. M. Campbell petitioned to have Center Street paved with bricks from Main to Bank (now College Avenue) Streets. Although it was not the first brick paved street in Ashland, Center Street’s paving was accomplished four years before even Main Street was improved. Per Alta Sims , who was central to the street being listed on the Historic Register, “the Center Street Historic District is, in short, a veritable textbook in residential architecture.” Beginning at Town Creek, the houses on the west side of center street are as follows: Beginning at Town Creek, the houses on the east side of center street are as follows: