Andres, Charles, House
Why it's listed
Set well back from the main north-south road on Middle Bass Island, this two-story frame house has a T-shaped gable-front-and-wing plan with Greek Revival and Italianate details. It was built by Charles Andres, a German immigrant from Baden who settled on the island in 1854 and bought 17 acres in 1866. About half that land was planted in vineyards by 1874. The house features pedimented window hoods, sawn eave brackets, a wide frieze with arched molding, and a full-width front porch with turned balusters, dentils and scroll brackets. Careful restoration reversed years of neglect, though the wing chimney is gone and the back porch appears to be an addition. The house reflects the small family vineyards that made the Bass Islands a leading wine region in the late 1800s. Of roughly 35 island residences from that era, it is among the six that kept their architectural integrity, and it is the best maintained of them.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is historically significant for its link to the Lake Erie Islands winegrowing district, which was among the most prominent in the United States until Prohibition. It is also significant architecturally as a well-preserved example of vernacular Italianate and Greek Revival, or folk Victorian, island residences. It is described as the best maintained of only six island houses that kept their architectural integrity.
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 95001196, listed November 6, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Co. Rd. No. 154 (Fox Rd.), Middle Bass Island |
|---|---|
| County | Ottawa County |
| Listed | November 6, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95001196 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1866-1922 |
| Architectural style | Italianate; Greek Revival (vernacular folk Victorian, gable front and wing) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, European, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored by its current owners to nearly match its original appearance, after earlier neglect and deterioration; the home is still used as a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 1.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.68555, -82.81072 (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 95001196.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5075128
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.