Old Funeral Palor
Also known as: Wolf Electric
Why it's listed
Standing at the northeast corner of Grand and Liberty Streets on the western edge of Vermilion's business district, this two-story wood-frame building dates from the 1850s. It began as a house and later served a variety of purposes, including a funeral parlor. Its proportions are Greek Revival, while hood moulding over the windows and brackets under the eaves reflect Italianate influence. The building has a T-shaped plan, a stone foundation, a composition gable roof and a seven-bay front. Later changes include large plate glass windows on the ground floor and a wing added on the west side, and it has lost much of its residential character. It is valued as a major visual landmark in the community and as an example of the transition from Greek Revival to Italianate design in commercial architecture. It was included in the Vermilion-Harbour Town multiple resource area.
Significance in brief: The inventory describes it as a major visual landmark in the community. It represents the transition from Greek Revival to Italianate architecture in commercial buildings. It also has a long history with a wide variety of uses, including a funeral parlor.
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 79003930, listed November 14, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 5596 Liberty St., Vermilion |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | November 14, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003930 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1850's |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival/Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as an electric company; exterior condition good, interior fair; ground floor altered with large plate glass windows and a west wing added. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.42203, -82.36608 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 79003930.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137783861
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.