Red Oak-Sherman, William C., House
Also known as: Hook Estate; Day-2223-26
Why it's listed
Built in 1931 for industrialist William C. Sherman, this large Tudor Revival house sits on three acres off Philadelphia Drive in Dayton. Sherman, a vice-president of the Standard Register Company, hired local architect Ellason Smith and gave him free rein over the design and furnishing. The two-and-a-half-story house has variegated brick walls, tapestry brickwork, false half-timbering, a polychrome slate roof and tall chimneys with clay pots. Whimsical details include carved stone dog plaques and painted maiden panels. Inside are oak paneling, carved fireplaces, an octagonal conservatory and bathrooms with colored fixtures. A brick gatehouse, garden wall and concrete-lined ponds and creek complete the grounds. Later the house served as a county children's home and a decorator show house, then stood vacant. It was listed for its architecture as one of the finest Tudor Revival examples in the Dayton area and for its well-preserved condition and the work of Smith.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of the finest Tudor Revival examples in metropolitan Dayton and typifies suburban estates built for wealthy entrepreneurs between the world wars. It is also a significant work of local architect Ellason Smith. It retains a high degree of integrity, including its slate roof, masonry, interior paneling and mantelpieces.
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 00001064, listed September 8, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1231 Hook Estates Dr., Dayton |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | September 8, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00001064 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1931 |
| Architect / builder | Smith, Ellason, Dayton, Ohio |
| Architectural style | Late 19th & 20th century revivals: Tudor Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant at the time of nomination; windows were boarded over and some plaster was damaged, though the house was in sound condition. New owners had bought it in 2000 and were restoring it as a residence. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 39.79419, -84.23366 (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.
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 00001064.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138609147
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.