Rae, Capt., House
Why it's listed
Captain Rae House is a two-story Italianate residence on the west side of Decatur Street in Vermilion, Ohio, between the railroad tracks and Liberty Avenue. Built in the 1870s, it is a wood-frame house on a stone foundation with a hip roof of composition material and a rectangular plan. The facade has three bays and the sides have five. Decorative features include brackets under the eaves, a detailed cornice, elaborate porches and an iron balustrade at the very top of the house. Aluminum siding was added recently and the house has been remodeled, but most original details remain intact. It sits on a small lot facing commercial development across the street. The house was built for Captain Rae, a lake captain who settled in Vermilion; its size and ornament suggest he had a successful career. It was listed as an well-preserved Italianate example and as a reminder of the town's maritime heritage.
Significance in brief: The inventory describes it as an attractive Italianate house with most of its detailing intact. It is also considered an important link to Vermilion's maritime heritage, since it was built for a lake captain whose large, ornate home suggests a successful career.
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 79003939, listed November 14, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 690 Decatur St., Vermilion |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | November 14, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003939 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Interior and exterior listed in good condition; aluminum siding was recently added and the house has recently been remodeled. Used as a residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.42116, -82.37005 (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 79003939.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137784023
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.