Converse-Mertz Apartments
Why it's listed
Converse-Mertz Apartments is a four-story painted brick building at 301-303 E. Washington Street in Sandusky, built between 1848 and 1853 in the Greek Revival style. The design is attributed to Sheldon Smith, and the builder is recorded as Hancock. Charles Converse, a dry goods merchant, built it, and it originally served as a boarding house. Adrianna Van Deusen bought it in 1867 and ran the boarding house until her death in 1909. John Mertz, a stove and tinware dealer, then acquired it and remodeled it into apartments in 1912; his family held it until 1961. Features include a truncated hip roof with a square louvered cupola, wide cornices, plain stone lintels and sills, and a brick entry with stone columns. The original entrance appears to have been two stories high and recessed, with balconies above. The building was listed because it is an early large multi-family dwelling that housed many prominent local residents.
Significance in brief: The inventory form argues it is significant as an early, large multi-family dwelling where many important Sanduskians lived for a time. It is also described as an impressive example of Greek Revival styling in an apartment house. The reviewer noted that alterations to the central bays were substantial but other features remained intact.
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 82001388, listed October 20, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 301-303 E. Washington St., Sandusky |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | October 20, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001388 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1848-1853 |
| Architect / builder | Attributed to Sheldon Smith (architect); Hancock (builder) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as apartments; exterior condition listed as fair; located in a residential neighborhood that has deteriorated in spots. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.45620, -82.70746 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 82001388.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137771721
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.