Evans, Wilson Bruce, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1855-1856 at 33 East Vine Street in Oberlin, Ohio, this two-story square brick house reflects the Italianate style in modest form. It has a low hipped roof with bracketed eaves, segmental brick window arches, plain stone sills, a central chimney, and an entrance with an arched transom and double doors. A frame kitchen wing at the rear dates from the original owner, and the front porch was added after 1900 by his son. Wide interior moldings were probably made by the owner, a cabinet maker. Wilson Bruce Evans (1824-1898), a free black man from North Carolina, came to Oberlin in the early 1850s and became part of the leadership of its black community. He and his brother Henry took part in the 1858 Oberlin-Wellington Rescue of fugitive slave John Price. Both were among thirty-seven people indicted, and Evans spent 84 days in the Cleveland jail. He later served in an Ohio regiment during the Civil War, and many black Oberlin students roomed in the house.
Significance in brief: The house was the home of Wilson Bruce Evans, a free black man active in Oberlin's anti-slavery movement and a leader of its black community. He was one of those indicted after the 1858 Oberlin-Wellington Rescue of fugitive slave John Price. The house is also one of several pre-Civil War houses surviving in Oberlin.
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 80003143, listed April 16, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 33 E. Vine St., Oberlin |
|---|---|
| County | Lorain County |
| Listed | April 16, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003143 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | National, Local |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 9, 1997 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in good condition; only alterations are a hot air furnace, two bathrooms and a later front porch. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.28859, -82.21631 (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 80003143.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8022992
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.