Wilcox-Mills House
Also known as: President's House, Marietta College; See Also:Marietta Histor
Why it's listed
Built about 1822 for Henry Pierson Wilcox, Marietta's eighth postmaster, this two-story brick house at 301 Fifth Street replaced a small frame house of 1797. It is three bays wide with a gabled roof and a full-height pedimented portico, which Col. John Mills added about 1840 along with side porches. Mills, a banker and treasurer of Marietta College, acquired the property in 1837, and his family held it for a century. In the 1850s he added a street wall and a curved iron railing at the Putnam Street entrance, along with formal gardens. A two-story brick carriage house with a louvered cupola stands behind. Marietta College bought the property in 1937 and remodeled the interior for its presidents. The house was recognized for the refinement and quality of its Federal design, which is considered unique in Marietta. It remains in excellent condition and in use as the president's residence.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the house and carriage house have a highly refined design that is unique in Marietta. Although small compared with other outstanding examples of the period, they surpass them in refinement and quality of execution. The property also reflects ownership by the Mills family for a century and later use by Marietta College.
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 73001550, listed April 13, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 301 5th St., Marietta |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | April 13, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001550 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1822) |
| Architect / builder | Henry Wilcox (builder); street railing designed by Rufus Erastus Harte and executed by Count de Grasse Bonney |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition, occupied, and used as a private residence and for educational purposes as the Marietta College president's home. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Marietta Historic District (Boundary Decrease) |
| Coordinates | 39.41778, -81.45115 (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 73001550.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138763877
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.