09/18/2025
I may need some help, but this is whati have so far as a draft apply for national historic registry:
Statement of Significance
Name of Property: Maude Collins House (or whichever historic / local name)
Location: Vinton County, Ohio
Period of Significance: circa early-mid 20th century (particularly 1925-[later relevant years])
Associated Historic Person: Maude Charles Collins (1893-1972), first female county sheriff in Ohio.
Significance
The Maude Collins House is historically significant under Criterion B (for its association with a significant person) and potentially Criterion A (for its association with law enforcement history and the changing role of women in public office) of the National Register of Historic Places.
Criterion B – Significant Person:
Maude Collins was appointed Sheriff of Vinton County in 1925 after the death of her husband, Sheriff Fletcher Collins. She then successfully ran for election in 1926 and was elected sheriff in her own right, making her the first woman in Ohio andin the US to hold sheriff’s office through election. Her career includes several policing and investigative accomplishments, including solving serious criminal cases and carrying out duties traditionally performed by male sheriffs. Her role broke gender norms in law enforcement and public service in early 20th-century Ohio.
Criterion A – Events / Public Life:
The property served as the sheriff’s department until quite recently making it historically relevant not just for its association with Maude Collins, but also for its long continuous use in law enforcement context. The house reflects the evolving legal and institutional history of local law enforcement, women in government roles, and perhaps societal attitudes toward women’s leadership.
Integrity & Physical Characteristics willbe filled out online andi may need help with that
Will need to compare: with other sheriff houses / sheriff’s offices in Ohio, especially those from that era. Are any similar houses listed in the National Register for association with law enforcement, or women’s leadership?
Examine how rare it is for a women sheriff in the 1920s, particularly in Ohio, and whether that uniqueness adds significance.
Also compare how many structures in Vinton County, or neighboring counties, are tied directly to pioneering women in public office, to help show local importance.
Periods of Use & Historical Timeline
When was the house built, who built it originally.
The period when it was the home of Maude Collins (dates).
The period when it was used as the sheriff’s department (how many years, when it ceased use)
Key events during her time in the house: elections, cases, any notable events, e.g. the murders she investigated, or other public duties.
Justification
Because of the association with Maude Collins — a pioneering woman in law enforcement, recognized statewide — and because the property has functioned continuously in law enforcement use until recently, the house likely has local and perhaps state significance. If sufficient physical integrity remains, it meets the criteria for inclusion in the National Register under Criterion B and A.
