Winans, Dr. J. C., House
Why it's listed
This two-and-a-half story frame house at 143 River Street in Madison, Ohio, shows the Eastlake style at its most elaborate. Built around an older rear section, the main block is a large square form with a bracketed frieze, drop pendants, a gable on each elevation and a full-width porch. Most of its millwork is lathe turned, with jigsawn and carved details. The porte-cochere is described as a Victorian Eastlake fantasy, and tradition holds that it may be a reworked cupola. Inside are mahogany woodwork, parquet floors, a former doctor's office and a second-floor ballroom with an orchestra podium. The older rear wing is traditionally credited to Lemuel and Abel Kimball, original settlers of Madison Township, and was moved to the site around 1868-1870. Dr. J. C. Winans lived there by 1874 and built the Eastlake portion between about 1876 and 1880. The house is regarded as the finest Eastlake example in Lake County.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the most outstanding example of the Eastlake style in Lake County, Ohio, citing its exuberant lathe-turned and jigsawn millwork. It is also important in local history through its associations with the Kimball and Winans families.
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 76001461, listed April 26, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 143 River St., Madison |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Listed | April 26, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001461 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Victorian Italianate and Eastlake |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied and in use as a private residence; condition marked good and altered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.76854, -81.04927 (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 76001461.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138416666
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.