Chesney, Dr. John, House
Also known as: Garner,Berger,Kimerline,Flegnand and Kennedy Law Offices
Why it's listed
Built in 1892 two blocks east of the public square in Bucyrus, Ohio, this three-story Queen Anne house served as both home and office for Dr. John Chesney, a successful physician and surgeon. The brick building rests on a rock-faced stone basement and combines brick walls with decorative imbricated shingles, a slate hip roof, terra cotta chimney panels, and an encircling verandah with spindlework. A three-story circular bay at the northeast corner holds a tower, whose original conical roof was replaced by a flat one after wind damage. Inside, German carvers employed by the local Roehr Interior Wood Trim Company produced oak and cherry woodwork, including a carved oak stairway. Dr. Chesney helped organize the National Association of Railroad Surgeons and practiced in Bucyrus until his death in 1912. His son-in-law, also a physician, later used the house as home and office. After a 1971 restoration, it was converted to law offices in 1972.
Significance in brief: The form describes it as one of the best examples of Queen Anne architecture in Bucyrus, citing its tower, varied brick and shingle wall treatment, veranda, irregular massing and carved interior woodwork by the Roehr Interior Wood Trim Company. It is also noted for its link to Dr. Chesney, a successful physician who helped organize the National Association of Railroad Surgeons.
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 80002971, listed March 24, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 225 E. Mansfield St., Bucyrus |
|---|---|
| County | Crawford County |
| Listed | March 24, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002971 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied, in excellent condition and used as law offices; the original conical tower roof was replaced by a flat roof after wind damage, the only noted alteration. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.80867, -82.97160 (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 80002971.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137627995
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.