{"nrhp_refnum":"75001464","name":"Langston, John Mercer, House","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"207 E. College St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Oberlin","county":"Lorain County","state":"OH","lat":41.291273680000074,"lon":-82.20979023099994,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1975-05-15","is_nhl":true,"nhl_designated_date":"1975-05-15","areas_of_significance":["Black","Politics/Government","Social History"],"significance_levels":["national"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A simple clapboard house at 207 East College Street in Oberlin, Lorain County, Ohio, completed in 1855 and later altered with rear and side additions. It was the home of John Mercer Langston during his years in Oberlin.","why_significant":"The nomination argues the house commemorates John Mercer Langston, who in 1855 became the first known Black person elected to office in the United States. He also organized Howard University's law department, served as a diplomat to Haiti, and was the first Black congressman elected from Virginia. The house is described as the only remaining extant residence connected with him.","narrative":"Built in 1855, this clapboard house at 207 East College Street in Oberlin, Ohio, was home to John Mercer Langston from 1856 to 1867. The house follows a vernacular tradition, with a front door bearing an elaborate Gothic revival quatrefoil carving. A central hall with a stairway leads to spacious front sitting rooms with tall French windows, original baseboards, chair rails and trim. Later additions include a brick shed, a screened porch and a two-story bathroom wing. Langston was born in Virginia in 1829 and educated at Oberlin. In 1855 he became the first known Black person elected to office in the United States, as a township clerk. He later served on the Oberlin council and school board, recruited Black troops for Massachusetts regiments, led Howard University's law department, served as minister to Haiti, and was elected to Congress from Virginia. The house was nominated because it is the only surviving residence tied to him.","period_of_significance":"1829-1897 (19th century)","architect_builder":null,"architectural_style":"Vernacular tradition with Gothic revival details, such as the quatrefoil carving on the front door","criteria":[],"status_note":"Described as in good condition on its original site, altered by additions, and in use as a private residence.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:53:10.015762-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_OH/75001464_NHL.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/75001464/0106f88acc-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/75001464/0106f88acc-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Ray Malinowski","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_Mercer_Langston_House.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Ray Malinowski</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_Mercer_Langston_House.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71986511","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Mercer_Langston_House","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1701068"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/ohio/lorain-county/langston-john-mercer-house-75001464/"}