{"nrhp_refnum":"88000205","name":"Westbrock Funeral Home","other_names":["Herrman, Margaret, House"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"1712 Wayne Ave.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Dayton","county":"Montgomery County","state":"OH","lat":39.74496354100006,"lon":-84.16841031499996,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1988-03-10","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Social History"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A funeral home at 1712 Wayne Avenue in Dayton, Ohio, created in 1922-23 by adapting the Italianate Margaret Herrman House, built in 1865, and adding a rear block for viewing rooms and services.","why_significant":"The nomination argues it was the first funeral home in Dayton and shows the early shift from storefront undertakers and funerals held in private homes to a single mortuary facility offering all funeral services. Ben Westbrock adapted the mansion while keeping its significant features, thanks partly to architect Albert Pretzinger. The house is also described as an unusual Italianate example with a Second Empire-style central tower.","narrative":"Westbrock Funeral Home occupies a brick Italianate mansion at 1712 Wayne Avenue in Dayton, built in 1865 for Samuel Edgar's daughter Margaret Herrman. After the house stood vacant in 1922, undertaker Ben Westbrock bought it and, working with architect Albert Pretzinger, converted it into a mortuary in 1922-23. A low brick-and-stucco addition at the rear holds viewing rooms, service spaces and a six-car garage, joined to the old house by a porte cochere. The original stair hall, woodwork, doors and marble fireplaces were kept. The first funeral was held there on April 26, 1923. The property is recognized for its role in social history: it was Dayton's first funeral home, marking a move away from storefront undertakers and funerals at the home of the deceased toward one facility handling preparation, viewing and services. The mansion's central tower, more typical of Second Empire design, adds to its distinctive character. It remains in good condition and in funeral use.","period_of_significance":"1922-23","architect_builder":"Albert Pretzinger (adaptive use in 1922-23)","architectural_style":"Italianate","criteria":["A"],"status_note":"The form states the property remains in good condition and is still used as a funeral home (mortuary).","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:53:14.21701-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_OH/88000205.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/88000205/d6a6715c89-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/88000205/d6a6715c89-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 3.0","author":"Greg5030 Photo by Greg Hume","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:WestbrockFuneralHome.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Greg5030 Photo by Greg Hume</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:WestbrockFuneralHome.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71990621","wikipedia":null,"wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138634444"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/ohio/montgomery-county/westbrock-funeral-home-88000205/"}