Bookwalter, Francis, House
Also known as: Hawkins House
Why it's listed
Built in 1875-76 on South Fountain Avenue in Springfield, this three-story frame house rises to a fourth-story center tower under a steep mansard roof of multicolored slate topped with cast-iron cresting. Scroll-sawn trim, window hoods, bays and bracketed eaves give it an elaborate profile, and a large brick carriage house stands at the rear of the lot. The house was built for Frank Bookwalter, born in Indiana in 1837, who became general manager of the Leffel water wheel firm and was responsible for improvements to its turbine until 1900. He also built a private observatory, wrote on watches, and designed a clock that supplied standard time to Springfield factories. The nomination describes the house as the city's most unusual, a design close to one published by S. B. Reed and a rare surviving example of a style that has largely vanished. Later porch changes, apartment conversion and long neglect have affected it, and restoration began in 1978.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites two levels of significance. The house was built for Frank Bookwalter, who managed the Leffel water turbine firm and devised an electrically linked clock that set standard time for Springfield factories. It is also described as an exuberant, nearly caricature-like example of the mansard style, rare in Springfield.
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 80002954, listed January 3, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 611 S. Fountain Ave., Springfield |
|---|---|
| County | Clark County |
| Listed | January 3, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002954 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1875-76 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Mansardic or Second Empire |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture, Invention |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and used for apartments; undergoing restoration after being sold in 1978. The front porch and interior are described as in poor condition after decades of neglect. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.91725, -83.81094 (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 80002954.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137607286
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.