MacDonell House
Also known as: Banta-Van Dyke House
Why it's listed
Built about 1893 for confectioner Frank Banta, this Shingle-Style mansion at 632 West Market Street in Lima is a surviving example of the large residences that once lined the street. It has buff brick on the first story, a bellcast slate-shingled second story, a wraparound porch on the south facade and a steep third-story gable. The east side features a tall oriel with stained glass lighting a handcarved staircase. Inside are cherry, mahogany and oak woodwork, parquet floors, ornamental fireplaces and a third-floor ballroom. John Van Dyke, an oil refinery superintendent, added the rear portion after buying the house in 1897. A frame carriage house stands behind. The house reflects the wealth of Lima's oil boom after 1885 and has changed little. The MacDonell family bought it in 1932 and donated it to the Allen County Historical Society in 1960. It now operates as a museum.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the house as evidence of the great wealth of Lima's oil boom years, when it served as a home for several business tycoons. It also has architectural merit because it has changed very little inside or out. It survives as one of the many fine residences once found along the 600 block of West Market Street.
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 78001999, listed September 20, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 632 W. Market St., Lima |
|---|---|
| County | Allen County |
| Listed | September 20, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001999 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1893 |
| Architectural style | Victorian Shingle Style |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by a local historical society and operated as a museum with thirteen rooms open to the public; museum personnel live in the rear section. The house stood vacant from 1903 to 1915. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.74027, -84.11595 (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 78001999.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q111318138
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.