Otis Hospital
Why it's listed
Otis Hospital, at 441 East Market Street in Celina, was Mercer County's first hospital. Dr. Lloyd M. Otis founded it in 1915, and his son, Dr. James J. Otis, ran it until 1977. The building began as a two-story brick residence of 1865 with wide classical pilasters and hooded segmental arched windows. A 1921 conversion added an east section with trios of multipaned windows, a red tile roof with wide overhangs, and horizontal lines resembling prairie style. The Lima firm Hulsken and Strong carried out the remodeling. Inside, the plan was meant to feel like a home, with operating and delivery rooms and patient rooms upstairs, and an office, x-ray and emergency rooms on the first floor. More than 6,125 deliveries were recorded over 55 years of maternity care. Fire safety rules ended maternity care in 1970 and Medicare services in 1976, and in-patient care stopped in 1977. A planned demolition for a fast food restaurant was cancelled after public objection, and rehabilitation is now being sought.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a rare example of home-like community health care in the early 20th century, as Mercer County's first hospital, founded in 1915 by Dr. Lloyd M. Otis. It is also architecturally notable as a Civil War era residence remodeled into an adapted prairie style by the Lima firm Hulsken and Strong. The hospital's 1921 appearance and interior arrangement largely survive.
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 80003160, listed November 25, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 441 E. Market St., Celina |
|---|---|
| County | Mercer County |
| Listed | November 25, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003160 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- (specific dates 1865, 1921) |
| Architect / builder | Hulsken & Strong, Lima, Ohio |
| Architectural style | Adapted prairie style remodeling of a Civil War era classical brick residence |
| Areas of significance | Health/Medicine, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed its in-patient services in 1977 and is listed as unoccupied. The owner cancelled a planned sale for demolition and committed to seeking rehabilitation for offices or living space. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.54943, -84.56709 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 80003160.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138587517
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.