Doerzbach, George J., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1900 at 1208-1210 Central Avenue in Sandusky, this double house blends two turn-of-the-century styles: Dutch Revival and Late Romanesque Revival. It is three stories, T-shaped, of red brick with a rock-faced sandstone front, stone quoins, stepped end gables that incorporate chimneys, scrolled sandstone dormers, and a large arched entrance. A rear wing with its own stepped gable faces Maple Avenue. Inside, heavy oak woodwork and oak mantels with tile fireplaces survive. The builder was G. Wm. Doerzbach & Bro, a Sandusky contracting firm that erected hotels, offices, college buildings, churches, courthouses and other works across northern Ohio. The house is described as the only one in Sandusky to combine these two styles, and as unusual for using every important exterior material of its era. Only the original slate roof has been replaced, with asphalt shingles. It was built for George Doerzbach, one of the contracting brothers, and remained in family hands.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues significance under Criterion C for architecture. The house is described as the only one in Sandusky combining Late Romanesque Revival and Dutch Revival styles. It was also built by an important Sandusky contracting firm that erected many buildings across northern Ohio, and it incorporates every important exterior building material of its period.
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 87000639, listed April 23, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1208--1210 Central Ave., Sandusky |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | April 23, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000639 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900 |
| Architect / builder | G. William Doerzbach & Bro |
| Architectural style | Dutch Revival and Late Romanesque Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition, occupied and unaltered except for replacement of the original slate roof with asphalt shingles; the interior is remarkably intact. Used as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.44520, -82.71400 (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 87000639.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137782667
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.