Winterringer Building and House
Also known as: Brownson Building
Why it's listed
Beside the railroad line in Old Hilliard, Ohio, a brick commercial building and a frame family house stand joined together. The two-story store was built about 1870 by Orin S. Brownson and sold in 1873 to John W. Winterringer, whose family kept it until 1983. It served as a general store selling groceries, notions and boots and shoes, and housed the post office for many years. The upstairs room hosted fraternal groups and, for a time, village council. The Winterringers built the adjoining house around 1880 and linked it to the store about 1900. The store keeps its original storefront, six-over-six windows, brick hoodmolds and pressed metal cornice, making it an early and intact example of Italianate commercial design. The house shows modest Gothic influence in its steep gables and pointed-arch windows. The first floor now operates as a pub and restaurant, while the upper floors remain largely unaltered.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues significance under Criterion C as a good, remarkably intact example of Italianate commercial architecture, with an original storefront, pressed metal cornice and segmental-arched hoodmolds. The modestly Gothic-influenced house, joined to the store around 1900, adds to the property's character. Together they represent Hilliard's commercial and architectural development before the turn of the century.
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 88000720, listed June 9, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 5344 Center St., Hilliard |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | June 9, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000720 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1870-c. 1880 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (the commercial building was originally constructed about 1870 by Orin S. Brownson) |
| Architectural style | Italianate (commercial building); Gothic influence (residence) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The first floor is used as a pub and restaurant; the second floors of both buildings remain largely intact but are not currently in use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.03411, -83.15953 (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 88000720.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q54958228
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.