Haskins, Liberty Whitcomb, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1868, this large brick Victorian house at 625 Canal Road near Waterville, Ohio, was described as one of the most pretentious homes in the area. It rises two and a half stories on a roughly rectangular plan, with a full-height, semi-hexagonal bay at the center of the front facade and a double-doored entry beside it. Tall double-hung windows have stone sills, and the windows and entrance carry elaborate carved stone lintels. Bracketed eaves support the cornice beneath a hip roof. The house was built for Liberty Whitcomb Haskins, born in Waterville in 1845, a businessman, merchant and farmer. His father, Whitcomb Haskins, was among the town's earliest settlers, and Haskins married the daughter of another early settler, John Pray, in 1868. The house was listed for its architecture and its association with this family. At the time of nomination the owners were restoring it, including plans to rebuild the original entrance porch.
Significance in brief: The house is described as one of the largest and most elaborate Victorian structures in the area. It was built for Liberty Whitcomb Haskins, a prominent local businessman, merchant and farmer, and son of one of Waterville's earliest settlers.
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 75001475, listed July 1, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | N of Waterville at 625 Canal Rd., Waterville |
|---|---|
| County | Lucas County |
| Listed | July 1, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001475 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century; specific date ca. 1868 |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Eclectic (Victorian) |
| 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 and occupied; the owners were restoring it at the time of nomination. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.50940, -83.71942 (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 75001475.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138558308
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.