Stengel, John S., House
Also known as: Montgomer County Juvenile Court Annex
Why it's listed
Built around 1895 for Dayton merchant John S. Stengel, this narrow brick and limestone villa at 325 West Second Street is the last Victorian Queen Anne residence in the city's central business district. Its features include a corner tower topped by an observation deck, a veranda with Ionic columns, a high quarry-faced limestone basement, and double pedimented gables with Palladian windows. Inside, a large living hall with a fireplace and open stair, an oval drawing room and a coffered-ceiling dining room survive. Stengel lost the house to bankruptcy in 1908. It later became Dayton's first Osteopathic Hospital, operating from 1923 until 1946, and after a decade of mixed commercial use the county bought it for offices in 1958. Surrounded by modern buildings, it is one of very few nineteenth century homes west of Main Street, once Dayton's elite neighborhood, and retains a remarkable amount of its original architecture despite decades of varied use.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is the only remaining Victorian Queen Anne residence in Dayton's central business district and one of very few nineteenth century homes west of Main Street, once the city's elite neighborhood. It also served as Dayton's first Osteopathic Hospital from 1923 to 1946. Much of its original exterior and interior survives despite varied later uses.
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 83002013, listed April 21, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 325 W. 2nd St., Dayton |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | April 21, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83002013 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1895 |
| Architectural style | Victorian Queen Anne (described as an "Edwardian Villa" with Adamesque/Georgian Revival detail) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied by Montgomery County Court offices (Juvenile Court Annex); its future was under review at the time of nomination. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Within district | Downtown Dayton Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.76027, -84.19778 (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 83002013.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.