Bates-Cockrem House
Also known as: Wallace, George House
Why it's listed
Built probably around 1840 by the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad, this two-story limestone house at 325 Lawrence Street in Sandusky is one of several homes the railroad put up to draw settlers to the city. The railroad acquired the land in 1838. George Wallace, a railroad superintendent, purchased the house in 1848. In 1912 it passed to Joseph Bates, whose family played key roles in two of the city's window glass companies. The building has a symmetrical vernacular design with rock-faced ashlar walls, a gable roof, and a centered entrance framed by window lights. Upper window sashes were changed from the original six-over-six panes in the early twentieth century, and the porch with squared posts dates from the same period. Several additions stand at the rear. A converted barn serves as a garage and workshop, and the house sits beside another railroad-built house. The nearby railroad buildings are gone. It is now divided into three apartments.
Significance in brief: The house was built by the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad, probably around 1840, as one of several houses meant to attract settlers to Sandusky. George Wallace, a railroad superintendent, bought it in 1848. In 1912 it was bought by Joseph Bates, whose family were key members of two local window glass companies.
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 82001376, listed October 20, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 325 Lawrence St., Sandusky |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | October 20, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001376 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad (builder) |
| Architectural style | Vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as three apartments; interior and exterior condition reported as very good. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.45182, -82.71692 (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 82001376.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137771153
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.