Murschel House
Why it's listed
Built in 1876 by Jacob Murschel at 1221 N. Depot St. in Sandusky, this three-story brick building began as a saloon. When a new railroad depot was constructed across the street, it became a hotel for passengers of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad and later the New York Central. Italianate brackets line the roof, and a fascia board bearing the name Murschel House carries ball finials and scrolled decoration. Dripstone lintels top the front windows, except two oriel windows that may be later additions. An early brick addition with arched window tops and dormers sits at the rear. The roof is flat-hipped with dormers and shingles. Its significance rests on its link to 19th century railroading. As rail business declined, the clientele and the building's condition declined too. Recorded uses are a bar and rooming house, in a run-down neighborhood facing the depot it once served. Street-level openings have been covered over, and air conditioners protrude.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant for its connection with 19th century railroading. It began as a saloon and became a hotel serving travelers from the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern depot and later the New York Central. Its condition declined along with the railroad business.
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 82001427, listed October 20, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1221 N. Depot St., Sandusky |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | October 20, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001427 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Jacob Murschel (builder of the original saloon) |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is bar and rooming house; exterior condition is listed as fair, with street-level windows and doors covered over and air conditioners protruding. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.44073, -82.71807 (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 82001427.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.