Ninchelser, Dr., House
Also known as: IOOF Lodge
Why it's listed
Built around 1893 at 28 North Main Street in Mechanicsburg, this brick Queen Anne house was intended as a showplace by Dr. Oram Ninchelser, a wealthy physician, for his bride from New York City. She left him a few years after its completion, but he remained in the house until 1931, when it was sold to the Odd Fellows lodge, which has used it ever since. The 2 1/2-story building rests on a stone foundation and has a slate hip roof with fishscale and rectangular slates. Round-arched windows with contrasting stone surrounds, a Palladian window above the entrance, stained glass, a recessed entrance and a projecting bay with a parapet roofline give it a varied, irregular profile. The only noted exterior alteration is metal covering over the cornice. It was recognized as one of the town's largest and most impressive residences and as a fine example of late 19th century eclectic architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites Criteria B and C. It was built by and was the home of Dr. Oram Ninchelser, a wealthy physician and prominent local citizen, for nearly 40 years. Architecturally it is one of the largest and most impressive residences in Mechanicsburg and an excellent example of late 19th century eclectic design.
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 85001889, listed August 29, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 28 N. Main St., Mechanicsburg |
|---|---|
| County | Champaign County |
| Listed | August 29, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001889 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Health/Medicine, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a lodge by the Odd Fellows (IOOF) since 1931; described as in deteriorated or fair condition, with the cornice covered in metal and other original features intact. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.07376, -83.55683 (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 85001889.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7099424
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.