Robeson, Dr. Donovan, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1902 at 330 West Fourth Street in Greenville, this two and one-half story brick house is a late Queen Anne design of irregular plan. A round corner turret with a conical patterned slate roof and finial marks the front, and a stone veranda with rockface rails and piers runs across the lower level. Polygonal bays, a box oriel window and a complex slate roof of gables and hips add variety. Inside, the trim is well preserved, with a mission-style fireplace, a built-in walnut buffet, boxed beam ceilings and tracery art glass windows on the stair landings. A carport and garage were added at the rear around 1934. Dr. Donovan Robeson, a physician and surgeon who trained at Ohio Medical College and practiced in Illinois and Arcanum before moving to Greenville, had the house built with his offices in the basement. He served as Darke County Probate Judge from 1902 to 1908. The house is regarded as the city's finest brick Queen Anne.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the most outstanding example of late Queen Anne brick house in Greenville, with exterior and interior in an exceptional state of preservation. It is also associated with Dr. Donovan Robeson, a physician, surgeon and Darke County probate judge from 1902 to 1908.
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 76001411, listed December 12, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 330 W. 4th St., Greenville |
|---|---|
| County | Darke County |
| Listed | December 12, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001411 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition rated excellent; occupied as a private residence with an office in the basement. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.09864, -84.63519 (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 76001411.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5296857
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.