Dement-Zinser House
Why it's listed
Built in 1858 by Richard C. Dement, a trader, riverboat owner and postmaster of nearby Spring Bay, this two-story brick house stands one block north of the town square in Washington, Illinois. Its Greek Revival character shows in the low-pitched gable roof, wide trimmed cornice with returns, six-over-six windows and a front door framed by glass panes. Later additions, including a dining room and library, kitchen, bathroom, porch and a 1920 portico, gave it an irregular plan. In 1905 Dr. Harley A. Zinser, a prominent local physician, bought the house and began practicing in the east parlor, later building a bungalow office on the grounds that still holds much of his furnishings and instruments. His practice ran until about 1930. The house is described as the only Greek Revival house in the city and possibly its oldest. The Washington Historical Society acquired it in 1994 and uses it as an office and museum.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues local significance under Criterion B for its association with Dr. Harley A. Zinser, a prominent Washington physician who practiced there from 1905 to 1930. It is also significant under Criterion C as an example of Greek Revival architecture, said to be the only such house in Washington and possibly its oldest.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 02001411, listed November 27, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 105 Zinser Place, Washington |
|---|---|
| County | Tazewell County |
| Listed | November 27, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02001411 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1905-1930 (Criterion B); 1858 (Criterion C) |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built by Richard C. Dement, a trader, riverboat owner and postmaster of Spring Bay) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Health/Medicine, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used by the Washington Historical Society as an office and small museum since its purchase in 1994; the bungalow is being prepared as museum space and the garage is used for storage. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.70652, -89.40731 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 02001411.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q22033944
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.