Riley, Calvin E., House
Also known as: Mercer County Historical Museum
Why it's listed
Built in 1896 for Calvin Erastus Riley, a farmer, miller and banker, this large Queen Anne house at 130 East Market Street in Celina has a multi-gabled fish-scale slate roof and two facade towers, one round and one octagonal. A one-story porch with Doric columns spans the front, set on a high rusticated stone foundation. Inside, an oak-paneled vestibule leads to a hall with an open stairway and rose stained glass window. The Mersman Brothers Furniture Company, a local firm, later fashioned the staircase, entrance hall and parlor woodwork. Riley's grandfather, Captain James Riley, and father, James Watson Riley, surveyed the Old Northwest Territory and helped plat towns including Celina. Riley's daughter Lena lived here until 1974, after which the county purchased the home for a museum. It is the last residence on its commercial block, and a 1907 photograph shows it little changed.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for its association with the Riley family, which surveyed and platted early towns in the Old Northwest Territory, and as an excellent example of Queen Anne design with round and octagonal facade towers. Its interior woodwork, added by the local Mersman Brothers Furniture Company, is also noteworthy. It is the only residence left on its commercial block.
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 78002137, listed November 30, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 130 E. Market St., Celina |
|---|---|
| County | Mercer County |
| Listed | November 30, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002137 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1896 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the Mercer County Commissioners and used as a museum; condition marked good and unaltered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.54858, -84.56937 (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 78002137.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138577365
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.