Most Endangered Buildings
4. Elam Drake Farm (1850s)
2738 Ole Country Rd., Columbus, Ohio
…former home of Elam Drake, famous brickmaker & mason
Owner: Columbus Regional Airport Authority
Elam Drake Farm is named for Elam Drake, a mason and brick maker who moved to Columbus in 1831. He built some of Columbus’ earliest brick buildings and many others through the 1850s. Much of his work is on the National Register of Historic Places. Mr. Drake built a house, smoke house, and threshing barn on his farm when he retired. The once pastoral setting has been overwhelmed by urbanization. The buildings are unused and deteriorating, and are frequent targets for tagging/graffiti. Elam Drake Farm is owned by the Columbus Regional Airport Authority which plans major redevelopment of the site.