Simpson, Walter, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1853 at 521 Hancock Street in Sandusky, this two-story painted brick house is an example of Renaissance Revival architecture, a style the local survey describes as not numerous in the city. It has a hip roof with shingles, a stone foundation, and a wide cornice board with brackets and dentils. The same decoration appears on the front porch, which has five square pillar supports, and on the side bay windows. A frame addition from the late 19th century carries cutwork porch decoration. The front windows are six over six, and the double front entrance has a lighted transom. Walter Simpson, a Water Street merchant, was its first owner, and later occupants were also merchants. During the 1930s and 1940s the house itself served as a store. In 1905, while Abraham Bear owned it, organized religious activities of Sandusky's Jewish community began here. It remains a dwelling on a busy street, with a yard and shrubbery.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its fine architecture in a style not numerous in Sandusky. It was built for Walter Simpson, a Water Street merchant, and housed a series of merchants, and was itself used as a store in the 1930s and 1940s. Organized Jewish religious activities in Sandusky began here in 1905 when the then owner, Abraham Bear, lived in it.
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 82001436, listed October 20, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 521 Hancock St., Sandusky |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | October 20, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001436 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | E. Jefferson (builder, as read from the OCR text) |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a dwelling; interior condition good and exterior very good. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.45270, -82.70605 (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 82001436.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137779053
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.