Ferrell, Silas, House
Also known as: McQuate,I.L.,Funeral Home
Why it's listed
Built in 1880 on the east edge of Shiloh's business district, this two-story frame house is the village's finest surviving example of Italianate architecture. Its three-bay front, bracketed cornice, low metal hip roof, hooded windows with decorative millwork and eight-foot square cupola remain largely intact. Inside, the floor plan, black walnut stairway, woodwork, brass door hardware and interior shutters are original. A two-story carriage barn and matching shed survive at the rear. The house was built for Silas Ferrell, who owned the local general store and, with a partner, operated a grain elevator and made Clipper seed cleaners. His son Albert T. Ferrell later bought the cleaner business and moved it to Saginaw, Michigan, where it grew into a company with a world-wide market. From 1927 to 1971 the property served as a funeral home, and the barn's horse stalls were removed to house an ambulance. Of the 12 to 14 Italianate buildings in Shiloh, only this one retains enough integrity to merit recognition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is the most highly developed and best-preserved Italianate building in Shiloh, with its ornate millwork, bracketed cornice, hip roof and cupola largely intact. Of the 12-14 Italianate buildings in the village, it is the only one with enough integrity and its original outbuildings. It also reflects the standing of Silas Ferrell, a prominent local businessman, and the family's link to Clipper seed cleaners.
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 87002146, listed December 14, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 25 E. Main St., Shiloh |
|---|---|
| County | Richland County |
| Listed | December 14, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87002146 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1880 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house served as a funeral home from 1927 to 1971 and returned to residential use in 1971. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.96684, -82.59923 (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 87002146.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15277776
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.