Rombach Place
Also known as: Clinton County Historical Society and Museum
Why it's listed
Rombach Place is a two-story brick house on East Locust Street in Wilmington, Ohio, built in 1831 by Robert Wickersham. It has a T-shaped plan, a five-bay front block, a gabled shingle roof, corbelled chimneys and six-over-six windows. Porches were added over the years, and the whole house was stuccoed in 1937. Its importance comes from James W. Denver, who grew up near Wilmington and became a lawyer, Mexican War officer, California official, congressman, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, governor of the Kansas Territories and Civil War brigadier general. After marrying Louise Rombach in 1856, he bought this house for his bride and kept it as his home despite his travels. He later returned to Wilmington, practiced law and served as president of a Mexican War veterans' society. The Rombach family lived here until 1955, when the Clinton County Historical Society acquired it as a museum.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its association with James W. Denver, a soldier, lawyer and statesman of national prominence. Denver bought the house as a home for his bride in 1856 and kept it as his home throughout his western career. The form does not claim architectural significance.
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 79001793, listed June 20, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 149 E. Locust St, Wilmington |
|---|---|
| County | Clinton County |
| Listed | June 20, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001793 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Robert Wickersham (builder) |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a residence until 1955, when the Clinton County Historical Society acquired it; now used as a museum and offices. Marked occupied and altered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.44657, -83.82560 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 79001793.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14716798
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.