Pelton House
Also known as: Fischer Funeral Home
Why it's listed
Built around 1860 on South Street in Vermilion, this two-story wood-frame house began as a residence and later became a funeral home. It has a stone foundation, a gable roof with asphalt shingles, wood cornices, and a nine-bay front. The central portion is original, while the two side wings are fairly recent additions. The cornices and other detailing suggest Greek Revival design, but the proportions are more Italianate, producing an interesting blend of the two styles. The interior was remodeled when the building was converted to a funeral parlor. The house was once the home of a prominent businessman named Pelton, and it is regarded as one of Vermilion's larger and finer older houses. It sits on a spacious lot with ornamental shrubbery and shade trees. It was listed as part of a group of Vermilion properties, recognized for its architecture and its place in the town's older residential stock.
Significance in brief: The inventory form describes it as one of Vermilion's larger and finer older houses, once the home of a prominent businessman named Pelton. It is noted for an interesting mixture of Greek Revival forms with Italianate details. It was included in 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 79003944, listed November 14, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 5345 South St., Vermilion |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | November 14, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003944 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | circa 1860 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival-Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a funeral parlor; interior remodeled for that use; condition listed as good to very good. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.41857, -82.36101 (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 79003944.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137784300
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.