Layman, Christopher C., Law Office
Why it's listed
Built in 1890 at the corner of First and Cherry Streets in Woodville, Ohio, this small brick building served as the law office of Christopher C. Layman, the village's first resident lawyer. It is a one-story, common bond brick structure on a rough cut sandstone foundation, with a tall false front hiding the gable roof. Brick banding and corbelling form a decorative cornice, and the arched brick lintels have sandstone keystones and sills. A wooden canopy with saw-toothed edges shelters a stoop of four grey sandstone slabs. Layman, a Swiss-born Civil War veteran and University of Michigan law graduate, settled in Woodville in 1884, secured the village's incorporation that year, and helped organize its school district in 1886. After his death the building housed a doctor's office from the 1920s until 1964, then returned to law use in 1966. It is recognized for its modest Italianate design and its link to Layman, and the only other structure on the site is the original coal shed.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a modest example of Italianate architecture and is associated with Christopher C. Layman, Woodville's first resident lawyer, who secured the village's incorporation in 1884. It is described as the only extant free standing office building in the village and retains most of its original character.
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 86001062, listed May 15, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 212 W. First St., Woodville |
|---|---|
| County | Sandusky County |
| Listed | May 15, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001062 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1890 |
| Architectural style | Italianate (modest) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Law, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as a law office; it stood vacant for two years (1964-1966) before being bought and returned to its original use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.45266, -83.36031 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 86001062.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5112042
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.