Beecher, Lucas, House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1847-1848 at 215 West Washington Row in Sandusky, this two-story house is made of coursed ashlar Sandusky limestone and sits on a high foundation. Its Greek Revival entrance has square piers, a horizontal entablature and two unfluted Doric columns set in a recess. The hipped roof has simple brackets and pendant dentils, and the second-story windows keep their original six-over-nine sash. The interior has been completely altered, though the facade, west elevation and most of the east elevation are intact. The house was the home of Lucas S. Beecher, a Sandusky lawyer who practiced more than fifty years after losing a leg in a boyhood accident and later becoming nearly blind. He was associated with the anti-slavery movement. Beecher's heirs sold the house in 1900. It later housed the telephone exchange from 1902 to 1918 and then the American Legion from 1932 to 1977. It is the last early nineteenth century building facing Washington Park and the courthouse square.
Significance in brief: It was the home of Lucas S. Beecher, an important Sandusky lawyer who practiced for over fifty years despite losing a leg as a boy and later becoming nearly blind, and who was identified with the anti-slavery movement. It is also noted for its fine stonework and detailing, and as the last remaining early nineteenth century building facing Washington Park and the courthouse square.
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 79001827, listed May 7, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 215 W. Washington Row, Sandusky |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | May 7, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001827 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1847-1848 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant and unoccupied; additions were removed in 1978 in preparation for rehabilitation. The interior has been completely altered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Downtown Sandusky Commercial Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.45504, -82.71258 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 79001827.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137771026
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.