Burrell-King House
Why it's listed
Built in 1852 on a spacious lot in eastern Oberlin, this two-story brick house is the city's largest domestic example of Greek Revival architecture. It has a gable end facing the street, a massive entablature with dentil detailing, and a rear wing added later. Around the turn of the century a semicircular classical porch, a porte cochere and a side porch were added, giving the house a Neo-Georgian appearance while its Greek Revival character remains visible. Jabez Lyman Burrell, one of Oberlin College's first trustees, had the house built. In 1886 the college sold it to professor Henry Churchill King, who served as college president from 1902 to 1927, the longest term in its history. During that time the house became the center of the college's official social life, and many townspeople still call it the President's House. It has been restored as a residence, and a wooden carriage barn survives on the grounds.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to Jabez Lyman Burrell, who built it and was one of Oberlin College's first trustees, and to Henry Churchill King, who served as college president from 1902 to 1927. It is also Oberlin's largest domestic example of Greek Revival architecture and one of few surviving pre-Civil War buildings associated with the college.
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 79001886, listed March 7, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 317 E. College St., Oberlin |
|---|---|
| County | Lorain County |
| Listed | March 7, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001886 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1852 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, with early twentieth-century Neo-Georgian alterations |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored and in use as a residence; offices were removed from the house. A new building on the grounds, excluded from the nomination, is used as a child care facility. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 41.29095, -82.20584 (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 79001886.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138514963
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.