Graefe, Henry, House
Why it's listed
This two-story frame house at 1429 Columbus Avenue in Sandusky was built around 1900 in the Georgian Revival style by George Feick. It sits on a large, well-kept lot with mature trees, and a frame carriage house with a shingled gable, built in 1902, stands behind it. The roof is a truncated hip with a widow's walk. A pedimented front portico with brackets, a leaded glass lunette and four fluted Corinthian columns marks the entrance, with a balcony above the doorway. Other details include oriel and Palladian windows, a curved two-story bay, double arched dormers and pilaster corner boards. The house is valued for its outstanding architecture of the period and is described as the largest and grandest in a row of elegant buildings spanning about 80 years of styles. It was built for Henry Graefe, president of the Citizens Banking Co., and his descendants became prominent local bankers, property owners, physicians and executives.
Significance in brief: The inventory form argues the house is significant for its outstanding architecture of the period. It is described as the largest and grandest in a row of elegant buildings spanning about 80 years of architectural styles. It is also tied to Henry Graefe, president of the Citizens Banking Co., whose descendants were prominent bankers, property owners, physicians and executives.
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 82001403, listed October 20, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1429 Columbus Ave., Sandusky |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | October 20, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001403 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | George Feick (builder) |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a dwelling; exterior and interior condition listed as excellent, on a large, well-cared-for lot. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.44354, -82.70462 (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 82001403.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137771785
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.