Doan House
Also known as: Heiland House
Why it's listed
Located at 822 Fife Avenue in Wilmington, Ohio, this two-story clapboard house was built in 1840 by James Wilson, the first superintendent of the Clinton County Infirmary. It has Federal proportions with Italianate detailing, including a five-bay arcaded front porch on columns and pedestals, a bracketed cornice, and a semicircular dormer with an ornamental pediment and finial. The dormer distinguishes it from other houses in the community. The house was stuccoed in the early 1920s, and a rear kitchen wing was removed in 1940. Its best-known occupant was Azariah W. Doan, who bought it in 1869. Doan raised a company of Ohio volunteers in 1861, served through the Civil War, and rose to colonel and brevet brigadier general. He later served in the Ohio State Senate and as Common Pleas judge from 1875 to 1893. The house also marks the edge of Wilmington's city limits, where the rural zone begins.
Significance in brief: It was the home of Azariah W. Doan, a Civil War officer and Clinton County Common Pleas judge from 1875 to 1893. It is also the last house in Wilmington before the rural zone begins. Its Federal proportions with Italianate additions, notably a full-facade porch and a rounded dormer, set it apart from other houses in the community.
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 79001792, listed June 20, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 822 Fife Ave, Wilmington |
|---|---|
| County | Clinton County |
| Listed | June 20, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001792 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1840 |
| Architect / builder | James Wilson |
| Architectural style | Federal with Italianate influences |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as a private residence; the form marks the status as occupied. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.44445, -83.81238 (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 79001792.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14716403
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.