The Oakland Residential Historic District [†] is a historically significant working-class neighborhood that developed between 1880 and 1960 in response to Middletown's rapid industrial expansion. The district is bounded by 1st Avenue, Curtis Avenue, Woodlawn Avenue, Grove Street, Parkview Avenue, Calumet Avenue, Garfield Street, and Richmond Street.
The district contains 556 total resources, including 476 contributing buildings and 80 non-contributing buildings. One non-contributing site, Oakland Park, is also located within the district. The neighborhood consists primarily of frame, single-family dwellings, some of which reflect Folk Victorian, Colonial Revival, and Craftsman architectural styles. Houses typically have front gables, porches, and are modest in design, reflecting their original working-class occupancy.
The district evolved alongside Middletown’s industrial growth, particularly with the influence of major employers such as ARMCO (American Rolling Mill Company), tobacco processors, and paper mills. Industrial development shaped both the architectural forms and the layout of the neighborhood. Streets are laid out in a modified grid pattern, with residential lots organized along narrow rectangular parcels. The earliest buildings date from the mid-19th century, while the majority were built between 1900 and 1930.
Historically, notable buildings within the district include the 1911 Carnegie Library on First Avenue, the Doty House at 403 Curtis Street (built c. 1859), and the Church of God and Saints of Christ at 530 Garfield Street (built 1892-1895). These structures, while having undergone functional changes over time, retain significant architectural integrity and contribute to the district's historic character.
Architecturally, the neighborhood features building types such as gabled-ell houses, American Foursquares, and Craftsman bungalows. The materials used include wood, brick, stucco, asbestos, steel, and various roofing types such as asphalt, slate, and terra cotta. Homes are typically two-and-one-half stories tall, modestly ornamented, and set close to the street with small setbacks.
Development of the area was facilitated through various subdivisions, such as Curtis’s Addition (1887), Woodland Addition (1888), and the Oakland Place Addition (1895). These plats reflected the piecemeal and developer-led expansion of the city, supporting a largely white, working-class population employed in local industries. Unlike neighborhoods developed by single entities or companies, Oakland grew organically through individual lot sales and small-scale builders.
The district’s significance lies in its representation of working-class housing trends and community development practices in Middletown during the peak of its industrial era. The architectural consistency and proximity to key industrial sites, including the now-demolished ARMCO Central Works, reinforce the historical context.
By 1960, changes in industrial employment and urban renewal policies began to alter the district’s landscape. The decline of ARMCO and related industries, combined with postwar suburbanization and infrastructure projects, led to vacancies, demolition, and infill development. Despite these changes, the district retains integrity in location, setting, design, and materials, justifying its listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
† Adapted from: Ohio State Historic Preservation Office, part of the Ohio History Connection, Oakland Residential Historic District, 2023, district nomination document, National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places, Washington, D.C., accessed July, 2025.
Street Names
1st Avenue • Askew Street • Baltimore Street • Calumet Avenue • Curtis Avenue • Fairfield Avenue • Fairmount Avenue • Garfield Street • Girard Avenue • Grove Street • Jacoby Avenue • Lamneck Street • Madison Street • Parkview Avenue • Penfield Avenue • Richmond Street • Woodlawn Avenue • Young Street