Wilson-Lenox House
Also known as: Marvin Ditmer House
Why it's listed
Built in 1816 by settler John Wilson, this two-story Flemish bond brick house sits on a rubble sandstone foundation near Turtle Creek in Shelby County, Ohio. Its gambrel roof, boxed cornice with dentils, and interior end chimneys give it a Dutch Colonial character, while the interior carries Federal detailing. Local tradition holds that the brick was imported from England. The house is described as the first brick house in Shelby County and the earliest in west central Ohio, predating the organization of the county and township. Windows and a front doorway have been altered, and a brick kitchen wing was added in 1870, but five fireplaces, carved mantels and a nearly intact second floor with pegged walnut doors survive. Wilson served on the county's first Board of Commissioners in 1819. The property stayed in the Wilson family until 1897, and son-in-law James Lenox, the first county treasurer, owned it for a time. It was vacated as a residence in 1967.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the first brick house erected in Shelby County and the earliest brick house in west central Ohio, built before the county and township were organized. It is also described as the only example of Dutch Colonial style in Region 3-HA. Its interior retains Federal detailing rare to the area, and the second floor remains nearly intact.
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 80003233, listed March 27, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W of Sidney at 9804 Houston Rd., Sidney |
|---|---|
| County | Shelby County |
| Listed | March 27, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003233 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | John Wilson |
| Architectural style | Dutch Colonial, with Federal interior detailing |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house was vacated as a residence in 1967; the form lists its present use as storage and its status as unoccupied. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.25593, -84.24856 (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 80003233.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8022951
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.