Housley, R. A., House
Also known as: Boulton--Entenman House
Why it's listed
Built about 1883 for Richard A. Housley, a grocer and mill proprietor, this two-story brick house sits on a bluff above the Maumee River and the commercial district of Grand Rapids, Ohio. Its L-shaped plan, deeply bracketed cornice, hooded windows and two-story bay window are hallmarks of the Italianate style. A cast-iron entry stair, added in 1890, and a wooden side porch recreated from the original add to its character. Inside, walnut stairs, burl-grained pocket doors and a black marble fireplace survive from the Victorian period. The house replaced a pioneer log cabin of the Gruber family. The architect and builder are unknown. A 1988 garage and breezeway stand where a carriage barn once was, and the grounds were redesigned as Victorian-style gardens. The house is significant as one of only a few fully expressed Italianate buildings in a town that developed mostly in the Greek Revival era, and it is the most historically complete of them.
Significance in brief: The house is nominated under Criterion C as an excellent, historically complete example of the Italianate style in Grand Rapids, one of few fully expressed examples in the town. It shows the spread of mid-nineteenth century architectural styles through the Maumee River valley and reflects Housley's success as a local businessman.
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 96000932, listed August 22, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 24155 Front St., Grand Rapids |
|---|---|
| County | Wood County |
| Listed | August 22, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000932 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1883 |
| Architect / builder | not known |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still a single-family dwelling; restored and rehabilitated, with a garage and breezeway added in 1988. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.41255, -83.86528 (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 96000932.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138766303
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.