Oller, Joseph J., House
Why it's listed
Built on West Main Street in Waynesboro, this 2½-story brick house was designed by local architect D. F. Good and begun in 1891, with construction completed in 1892 by A. M. Good & Brothers. Its multi-gabled roof, projecting round tower capped with a cone, shingles of contrasting textures, bracketing, and wrap-around porch give it a strong Queen Anne character. Joseph J. Oller, a manufacturer, financier and early director of Landis Machine Company, lived there until his death in 1936. A 1910 addition kept the original styling, and the interior retains chestnut woodwork, a massive open staircase, and pocket doors. The house is regarded as an outstanding example of late Victorian domestic building in Waynesboro, and it passed to the Waynesboro Historical Society in 1992. The barn and carriage house also survive from the original period.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an important local example of Queen Anne architecture, with its multi-gabled roof, projecting round tower, shingle variety, bracketing, dentils, asymmetrical plan and wrap-around porch. It also states that the house's size and prominent downtown site reflect the standing of the Oller family, and that the interior woodwork, staircase and pocket doors remain largely unaltered.
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 96000707, listed June 28, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 138 W. Main St., Waynesboro |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | June 28, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000707 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1890-1910 |
| Architect / builder | D. F. Good, architect; A. M. Good & Brothers, builders |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the Waynesboro Historical Society, which uses the house as its headquarters. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Waynesboro Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.75748, -77.58106 (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 96000707.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6284264
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.