Bigelow, Charles H., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1888-89 on a rise at the north end of Findlay, Ohio, this two-and-a-half story brick house was designed for Charles H. Bigelow by architect Henry Oswald Wurmser of Kramer & Wurmser. Bigelow was a farmer, stock breeder and businessman whose fortunes grew with the local gas boom, and lumber from his family planing mill went into the construction. The house is a lively example of the Queen Anne style, with gables, a square tower, a porte-cochere, a slate roof, carved stone accents and Eastlake-inspired woodwork. Inside, the layout is largely original, with a sweeping staircase, stained glass, tiled fireplaces, ornate mantels and parquet floors using oak, cherry, butternut and other woods. A ca. 1940 rear wing and a 1965 garage are later additions. The property is recognized for architecture, as an unusually intact Victorian residence from Findlay's boom years, and its period of significance covers its construction in 1888-89.
Significance in brief: The house is listed under Criterion C as an exceptionally intact example of the exuberant Queen Anne style. It was built during Findlay's gas boom, when local fortunes and social status grew rapidly. Its interior also remains largely unchanged from the late nineteenth 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 06000200, listed March 29, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2816 N. Main St., Findlay |
|---|---|
| County | Hancock County |
| Listed | March 29, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000200 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1888-1889 |
| Architect / builder | Wurmser, Henry Oswald |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne; Stick/Eastlake |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; the interior floor plan is essentially unchanged apart from a added second-floor bathroom, and the grounds have been reduced to 1.33 acres. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 41.07462, -83.65057 (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 06000200.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q1064652
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.