Boalt, John, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1868 at 631 Wayne Street in Sandusky, this brick Italianate house sits on a busy corner across from a city park, in a neighborhood of fine old houses. It rests on a limestone foundation under a hip roof and has an irregular plan. Decorative features include a wide frieze board with brackets, ornate windows with hoodmold caps and bracketed sills, double front doors with iron grills, a transom and a bracketed canopy. A two-story bay, a porch with rounded arches and polygonal posts, and leaded stained glass windows on the north side add detail. A porch was added in 1899, and a brick carriage house stands at the rear. The house was the residence of John Boalt, who served on Sandusky's first two city councils, worked as a postmaster, and in 1867 became president of the Sandusky Wheel Co., among the country's largest wheel factories. Dr. Charles Graefe, another prominent local figure, later bought it, and his family lived there until the late 1960s.
Significance in brief: The form calls it significant for its Italianate architecture. It was also the residence of John Boalt, who served on Sandusky's first two city councils, was a postmaster, and became president of the Sandusky Wheel Co. in 1867. That company was one of the largest wheel factories in the country, with 200 to 300 workmen.
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 82001379, listed October 20, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 631 Wayne St., Sandusky |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | October 20, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001379 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1868 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Interior in very good condition and exterior excellent; used as a dwelling. Preservation is not described as underway and the property is not listed as endangered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.44909, -82.70656 (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 82001379.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137771484
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.