Nickel, Old, Plate Railroad Depot
Why it's listed
This small railroad depot in Vermilion, Ohio, dates to about 1880, when the Nickel Plate line reached the village. It was built to handle both passengers and freight. The one-story, wood-frame building is Stick Style, with clapboard siding, a stone foundation, and a gabled roof of seamed metal. Long overhanging eaves rest on large brackets, carved wood moldings top the windows, and a projecting bay window faces the tracks. A second station was built on the east side of the river to serve tourists visiting Crystal Park. The depot sits at the northeast corner of Route 60 and the railroad, surrounded by warehouses and industrial buildings. The survey describes it as long unused and deteriorating, though in fair condition, and notes that discussions about preserving it had produced no progress. Its importance rests on its attractive frame construction and its tie to Vermilion's transportation history.
Significance in brief: The station was built about 1880 to serve passengers and freight in the village when the Nickel Plate line came through Vermilion. It is described as an attractive frame railroad station with clear links to Vermilion's transportation history. It was recorded as part of the Vermilion Harbour Town multiple resource area.
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 79003958, listed November 14, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Jct of Rte 60 and Norkfolk and Western Railroad, Vermilion |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | November 14, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003958 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Stick Style |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as long unused, deteriorating, and in fair condition inside and out; present use listed as storage. Preservation discussions had made no progress. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.41563, -82.36550 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 79003958.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137784671
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.