Medill, William, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1854 at 319 N. High Street in Lancaster, this two-story frame house was the home of William Medill, a lawyer and Democratic politician born in Delaware in 1802. He served in the Ohio legislature and Congress, worked as Commissioner of Indian Affairs, presided over the 1850-1851 constitutional convention, and became Ohio's first lieutenant governor. He then took over as governor when Reuben Wood resigned, and won a full term. Later he became the first Comptroller of the U.S. Treasury. Medill built the house during his governorship and used it as a retreat between appointments. It is the only remaining Ohio residence tied to him. The house has two gabled sections on a stone foundation, Gothic-arched windows, a three-bay front porch with fluted wooden columns, and interior woodwork including a cherry banister. Around 1900 it was moved to the back of its lot and turned to face High Street.
Significance in brief: The house is nominated for its association with William Medill, Ohio's 22nd governor and its first lieutenant governor, who also served as Commissioner of Indian Affairs and first Comptroller of the U.S. Treasury. It is the only remaining residence in Ohio associated with him.
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 78002061, listed March 30, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 319 N. High St., Lancaster |
|---|---|
| County | Fairfield County |
| Listed | March 30, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002061 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1854 |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as a private residence; the form says it was altered, especially the rear section, and moved around 1900. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Lancaster Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.71642, -82.59947 (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 78002061.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137802153
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.