Gilchrist, Capt., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1885 on Huron Street in Vermilion, Ohio, this two-story frame house was home to Captain Gilchrist, a successful ship captain and merchant who was also involved in the lumber business. It is a large Italianate residence with a stone foundation, clapboard siding and a hip roof of composition material. Elaborate hood moldings top the doors and windows, the eaves are massive and bracketed, and several stained glass windows survive. The front porch appears to be an early twentieth century addition, while the side porch seems original. A smaller, plainly ornamented rear wing extends behind the main block. Inside, a main hallway with a large stair remains, though the house has been subdivided into apartments. It sits on a large lot with shrubbery and shade trees, with the lake shore to the north. The house was listed as an excellent example of Italianate architecture and for its ties to Vermilion's maritime history.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an excellent example of Italianate architecture. It is also tied to the maritime history of Vermilion through Captain Gilchrist, a successful ship captain, merchant and lumber businessman.
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 79003948, listed November 14, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 5644 Huron St., Vermilion |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | November 14, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003948 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Converted to apartments; interior and exterior condition both listed as fair. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.42393, -82.36707 (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 79003948.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137784409
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.