{"nrhp_refnum":"84003662","name":"Van Deman, Henry, House","other_names":["House of the \"Hole in the Wall\""],"category":"building","location":{"address":"6 Darlington Rd.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Delaware","county":"Delaware County","state":"OH","lat":40.30874267000007,"lon":-83.07482403599994,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1984-05-31","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Education","Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A two-story brick house in Delaware, Ohio, at 6 Darlington Road near West Central Avenue, built circa 1826-1836 by the Rev. Henry Van Deman on a hill overlooking the town. It is also known as the House of the \"Hole in the Wall.\"","why_significant":"The nomination argues significance under Criterion B for Henry Van Deman's contributions to Delaware in religion and education, including his ministry, support for Ohio Wesleyan, and a finishing school. Under Criterion C it is an early local example of Federal-style residential architecture, with a stepped end gable, bridged chimneys, a symmetrical facade and a center entrance with sidelights.","narrative":"Built between about 1826 and 1836, this ten-room brick house sits on a hill above Delaware, Ohio, on a stone foundation with 15-inch bearing walls. Its late Federal character shows in the stepped end gable with bridged chimneys, the symmetrical five-bay facade, the recessed center entrance with sidelights, and a half-circle light in the gable. Seven fireplaces remain, and the interior keeps a cherry stairway, Doric columns between the parlors, and an old kitchen fireplace. Later changes include a modern kitchen wing, a garage with porch above, and replacement windows. The Rev. Henry Van Deman (1798-1872) settled in Delaware in 1824 as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. He served churches in several townships, organized a church in Marion County, supported the founding of Ohio Wesleyan, started a finishing school, and was known as an orchard keeper. After his death, two daughters lived in the house, and a sorority owned it from 1940 until the late 1960s. The steps nearby are remembered as the \"Hole in the Wall.\"","period_of_significance":"c.1826-1836","architect_builder":"Henry Van Deman (builder, per the description); the significance form lists N/A","architectural_style":"Late Federal","criteria":["B","C"],"status_note":"Occupied as a private residence; described as in good condition and altered, with a modern kitchen, garage and balcony additions.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:53:14.770993-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_OH/84003662.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/84003662/210d161e97-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/84003662/210d161e97-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Nyttend","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Henry_Van_Deman_House.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Nyttend</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Henry_Van_Deman_House.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71988074","wikipedia":null,"wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q137759931"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/ohio/delaware-county/van-deman-henry-house-84003662/"}