English, William, House
Why it's listed
Standing on a small hill overlooking farmland in Wayne Township, this two-story painted brick farmhouse was built in 1881 by William English, an Irish immigrant who settled the 160-acre farm in 1823. The Italianate house has twenty-five windows with stone segmental arches, keystones and lugsills, and nine doors with transoms. Four decorative porches step back to shelter recessed doors on the west side. The house is oriented by compass so that at noon on the equinox, summer solstice and winter solstice, sunlight shines directly into particular doors, making the building a large sundial and seasonal calendar. Inside, ash window moulding trimmed in walnut from the farm differs from room to room, and built-in wooden closets are reported to be the first in the area. English also owned a hollow brick factory on the farm. The house was sized for his family and the workers who lived with them, and descendants have kept it largely original.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is architecturally significant because its west-facing recessed porch doors work as an astronomical calendar and sundial. At noon on the equinox, summer solstice and winter solstice, sunlight shines directly into particular doors. It compares this to Stonehenge and notes the house's largely original condition.
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 82003562, listed June 2, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 11291 OH 47, Versailles |
|---|---|
| County | Darke County |
| Listed | June 2, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003562 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1881 |
| Architect / builder | William English |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as largely in original condition apart from some changes at the eaves; the interior has been carefully maintained. Used as a private residence and occupied. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.25152, -84.45947 (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 82003562.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8008619
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.