Westbrock Funeral Home
Also known as: Herrman, Margaret, House
Why it's listed
Westbrock Funeral Home occupies a brick Italianate mansion at 1712 Wayne Avenue in Dayton, built in 1865 for Samuel Edgar's daughter Margaret Herrman. After the house stood vacant in 1922, undertaker Ben Westbrock bought it and, working with architect Albert Pretzinger, converted it into a mortuary in 1922-23. A low brick-and-stucco addition at the rear holds viewing rooms, service spaces and a six-car garage, joined to the old house by a porte cochere. The original stair hall, woodwork, doors and marble fireplaces were kept. The first funeral was held there on April 26, 1923. The property is recognized for its role in social history: it was Dayton's first funeral home, marking a move away from storefront undertakers and funerals at the home of the deceased toward one facility handling preparation, viewing and services. The mansion's central tower, more typical of Second Empire design, adds to its distinctive character. It remains in good condition and in funeral use.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it was the first funeral home in Dayton and shows the early shift from storefront undertakers and funerals held in private homes to a single mortuary facility offering all funeral services. Ben Westbrock adapted the mansion while keeping its significant features, thanks partly to architect Albert Pretzinger. The house is also described as an unusual Italianate example with a Second Empire-style central tower.
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 88000205, listed March 10, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1712 Wayne Ave., Dayton |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | March 10, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000205 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1922-23 |
| Architect / builder | Albert Pretzinger (adaptive use in 1922-23) |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The form states the property remains in good condition and is still used as a funeral home (mortuary). |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Coordinates | 39.74496, -84.16841 (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 88000205.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138634444
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.