Gillett-Shoemaker-Welsh House
Why it's listed
Built in 1883 at 133 N. 4th Street in Waterville, this two-story brick townhouse has an L-shaped plan and a mansard roof with no windows in the mansard. A two-story bay dominates the east facade, and the main entrance, at the inside corner of the L, faces south beneath a one-story porch with carved brackets. Windows are double hung with segmental arches and retain their original shutters, and heavy carved brackets support the cornice. A one-story mansard-roofed addition sits at the rear. Orrin Gillett, born in 1812, had settled in Waterville in 1834, ran a general store and owned farm land. He built the house late in life, after retiring, on a site above the Maumee River and the abandoned Miami & Erie Canal. His daughter Jane Shoemaker lived there until 1930, and her daughter later sold it in the 1940s. It is recognized as a good example of a Victorian townhouse, one of few remaining in the area with a mansard roof.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a good example of a Victorian townhouse and one of few remaining in the area with a mansard roof. It is also tied to Orrin Gillett, a prominent local landowner who settled in Waterville in 1834 and ran a general store.
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 75001474, listed July 18, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 133 N. 4th St., Waterville |
|---|---|
| County | Lucas County |
| Listed | July 18, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001474 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1883) |
| Architectural style | Second Empire (Victorian townhouse with mansard roof) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, altered, on its original site; used as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.50197, -83.72103 (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 75001474.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138557973
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.