Cooke, Eleutheros, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1844 and moved to 1415 Columbus Avenue in Sandusky in 1878, this three-story limestone house shows Greek Revival design. Its entry has a recessed, paneled door flanked by fluted pilasters, sidelights and a fan light with tracery. A portico supported by two stone columns and two pilasters covers the entrance, and the roof carries stone battlements and four stone chimneys. Windows are mostly six over six. A wing was added to the south wall in 1881. The house was the last home of Eleutheros Cooke, Sandusky's first lawyer, who died there in 1864. He was the father of Jay Cooke, the Civil War financier, who visited the house on his honeymoon. Cooke also helped found the Firelands Historical Society in Norwalk. After Mrs. Cooke died in 1878, the house was moved from its downtown site and rebuilt here. A half-circle drive, lawns and shade trees surround it, and ivy on the walls was planted in 1890.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for both its architecture and its history. It was the final home of Eleutheros Cooke, Sandusky's first lawyer and father of Civil War financier Jay Cooke. Cooke also helped found the Firelands Historical Society in Norwalk.
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 82001389, listed October 20, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1415 Columbus Ave., Sandusky |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | October 20, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001389 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is listed as excellent for both interior and exterior; the house is in use as a dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.44398, -82.70487 (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 82001389.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5359665
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.