Walper, Capt. Henry, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1899 at the southwest corner of South and Exchange Streets in Vermilion, Ohio, this two-story Queen Anne house was constructed for Captain Henry Walper, a prominent Great Lakes ship captain. The wood-frame building rests on a sandstone foundation and is topped by a hipped gable roof of slate, ornamented with finials. Its irregular plan produces an interesting mass of projecting wings, bay windows and porches. Other distinguishing features include a wide cornice, pilasters, horizontal fascia boards and simple plain window moulding. Inside, oak parquet floors and stairways stand out. The house sits on a small corner lot with a garage at the south end, open lawns and a picket fence along the west property line. It remains a residence in good to excellent condition, and its connection to a ship captain makes it an important link with the maritime history of Vermilion.
Significance in brief: The house was built for Captain Henry Walper, a prominent Great Lakes ship captain. The inventory describes it as an important link with the maritime-oriented history of Vermilion. It is also a well-preserved example of Queen Anne design with distinctive roof and trim details.
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 79003955, listed November 14, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 5475 South St., Vermilion |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | November 14, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003955 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a residence; condition listed as good (interior) and excellent (exterior). Porches were planned to be restored to a more sympathetic style. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.41871, -82.36377 (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 79003955.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137784629
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.