Denzel, John, House
Why it's listed
This two-story wood-frame house stands on a large corner lot at South and Douglas Streets in Vermilion, Ohio. Built as a residence around 1870, it was sold in 1877 to the trustees of the Vermilion German Methodist Episcopal Church, which used it as a parsonage. The house has a gable roof with shingles, clapboard siding with pilasters, a sandstone foundation and an irregular plan. Windows have ornate moulding, and two porches display carved wood members, one added later. Its proportions are somewhat Greek Revival, while the detailing is Italianate. The grounds include large shade trees, a sloping bank on the east, attractive light posts and a garage at the southeast corner. The survey describes it as one of Vermilion's finer older houses and an excellent example of the Italianate frame houses typical of the town. It remains a residence, and both interior and exterior are in excellent condition.
Significance in brief: The inventory form describes it as one of Vermilion's finer older houses, set on a spacious lot, and an excellent example of the Italianate frame houses typical of the area. It was sold in 1877 to the Vermilion German Methodist Episcopal Church Trustees for use as a parsonage.
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 79003956, listed November 14, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 831 Douglas St., Vermilion |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | November 14, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003956 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a residence; interior and exterior condition both listed as excellent. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.41864, -82.36203 (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 79003956.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137784636
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.