Fuller, Frances Ensign, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1860 at 790 West Main Street in Madison, Ohio, this two-story wood-frame house is a rather grand example of Italianate design. It rests on a sandstone foundation under a hip roof with shingles. Round-arched windows sit within first-floor bays topped by entablatures, while second-floor windows have hoodmolds, and the bracketed eaves carry dentils. A projecting bay on the west side holds a side entrance. The front has flush tongue-and-groove siding, and the sides are covered in horizontal aluminum siding. Horace Ensign built the house, and it later became the home of his daughter, Frances Ensign Fuller, remembered as Madison's most noted woman. She served as a national organizer and lecturer for the Women's Christian Temperance Union from 1907 to 1912 and was also its Ohio president. The property combines this association with architecture that makes it one of the most impressive Italianate houses in the village. It sits on about 1.75 acres with no outbuildings and remains a residence.
Significance in brief: The house was the home of Frances Ensign Fuller, described as "Madison's most noted woman," who was a national organizer and lecturer for the Women's Christian Temperance Union (1907-1912) and Ohio president. It is also considered one of the most impressive Italianate houses in the village.
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 80003117, listed October 20, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 790 W. Main St., Madison |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Listed | October 20, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003117 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Built by Horace Ensign |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Interior and exterior condition listed as excellent; used as a residence. |
| Acreage | 1.8 |
| Coordinates | 41.76970, -81.06575 (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 80003117.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138446425
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.