Nichols, Walter, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1871 by mason Walter Nichols, this two-story brick house sits on a prominent corner at Fourth Street and West Avenue in Elyria. Nichols acquired the land from Heman Ely, the town's original platter. The house rests on a sandstone foundation and has a hip roof of seamed metal and a cross-shaped plan. Exterior features include an elaborate wood cornice, Corinthian columns on the porches, brick hood mouldings and sandstone lintels over the windows. Inside are a fruitwood fireplace with Dutch tile trim, a woven cherrywood screen between two parlors, marble fireplaces, cove mouldings and ceiling medallions. The property was sold in 1884 to George E. Crisp, and his son Albert later lived there until a sale in 1938 to Carl Wolfe. Described as a prime example of Italianate architecture, it is a familiar local landmark and was undergoing restoration at the time of the survey.
Significance in brief: The inventory form describes the house as a prime example of Italianate architecture, typical of the style in many ways. It cites its elaborate exterior woodwork and well-preserved interior finishes. It also notes the house is a familiar landmark at a prominent corner.
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 79002733, listed August 13, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SE corner of 4th St. and West Ave., Elyria |
|---|---|
| County | Lorain County |
| Listed | August 13, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002733 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1871 |
| Architect / builder | Walter Nichols (Mason) |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in the process of restoration; interior condition excellent, exterior fair to good. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Elyria Downtown-West Avenue Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.36407, -82.10987 (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 79002733.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138507618
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.