Ritter, William, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1891-93 at 181 South Main Street in Mansfield, this two and a half story brick house is an example of Queen Anne architecture. It has an irregular plan, a rock-faced ashlar foundation, and a hipped roof with offset gables topped by ball finials and covered in scalloped shingles. A three story corner tower carries a Palladian window, oval windows, and iron cresting, and a stained glass transom bears the letter R for the first owner. Inside, golden oak woodwork, gas fireplaces, and leaded and stained glass add detail. William Ritter, who lived from 1834 to 1906, had it built. He worked in his father's leather business, served as city clerk and county clerk, and later held several posts with the Mansfield Water Works. The house reflects the tastes of the city's middle-upper classes, though its South Main location was unusual for the period. It has changed little since construction, apart from a 1961 back porch enclosure and the loss of the carriage barn.
Significance in brief: The house is significant in architecture as an example of the Queen Anne style. It was built for a prominent Mansfield man and reflects the tastes of the city's middle-upper classes in the late 19th century. Its South Main location is unusual, since people who could afford such houses were generally building west of downtown, and it remains little altered.
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 78002178, listed December 29, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 181 S. Main St., Mansfield |
|---|---|
| County | Richland County |
| Listed | December 29, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002178 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca 1891-93 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Form lists the property as unoccupied and a private residence; the only noted exterior alteration was a 1961 back porch enclosure, and the carriage barn was torn down. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.75349, -82.51568 (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 78002178.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138661982
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.