Gilchrist, Capt., Sr., House

This two-story brick house was built in 1875 on a small corner lot at Ohio and Grand Streets in Vermilion, Ohio. It rests on a sandstone foundation under a gable roof of asphalt shingles, with a cross-shaped plan, wood trim, and heavy brick lintels now painted white. Ornate brackets sit under the eaves, and the brick walls have since been painted red. Inside, plaster ceiling rosettes and ornate woodwork survive, and the interior remains in basically its original condition. The house is associated with Captain W.H. Gilchrist, a lake captain and lumberman who was master of the vessel "W.H. Gilchrist," the subject of many stories. It is recognized as an outstanding example of Italianate architecture. Brick construction is unusual in Vermilion, where frame buildings predominate, and this is one of the town's few older brick houses. Large shade trees and shrubbery surround the lot, and a church stands across the street in a mainly residential neighborhood. It is still used as a residence.