Monumental Gilded Age Landmark: The Chancellor House (1878)

Standing as one of West Virginia’s most historically significant architectural treasures, The Chancellor House at 904 Juliana St is offered for sale for the first time since its construction in 1878.

Located in the historic heart of Parkersburg, West Virginia (Zip Code 26101), this magnificent 5,827-square-foot Second Empire / High Victorian mansion features four bedrooms and three bathrooms set on a landscaped 0.28-acre corner parcel.

Listed by: Eric J Corder 304-494-0063 eric@cbselectproperties.com, Coldwell Banker Select Properties

Commissioned by industrialist and Mayor Colonel William Nelson Chancellor (1830–1908) and designed by renowned Cincinnati architect A.C. Nash, this landmark home has been preserved across five generations of a single family.

Offering an extraordinary scale of museum-grade craftsmanship—including a mansard-roofed coach house, a observation tower overlooking the Ohio River, and original walnut millwork—this estate represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a preservationist or luxury buyer.

The residence commands a regal street presence with its multi-tiered mansard roof, slate tile accents, and central observation tower. Inside, the 5,827-square-foot interior spans 16 grand rooms illuminated by 64 windows.

Soaring 13-foot ceilings dominate the first two stories, while the third floor features 11-foot clearances. Deep rich walnut millwork, 10-foot-high paneled double doors, pocket doors, and elaborate hand-carved plaster ceiling medallions and cornices run throughout all three finished levels.

🏛️ Main Manor Interior Layout & Architectural Legacy

The home’s multi-level interior geometry is masterfully organized, connected by a network of four distinct staircases:

The Ground Floor Grand Parlors: Features a dramatic formal drawing room, a private library, and a grand dining hall. The dining room’s central centerpiece is a historic marble fireplace salvaged from the 1870s federal building that once stood at Juliana and 5th Streets. The main hall is accessed via a sweeping walnut staircase that rises continuously to the third tier.

The Four Staircase Circulation Network: In addition to the main walnut grand staircase, the home features an auxiliary staircase reaching the tower observation deck, a dedicated entrance staircase off 9th Street, and a historic back service stair connecting the recently updated kitchen to the former cook’s quarters.

The Upper Residential Chambers: The upper floors host four massive, light-filled bedroom chambers. The third level features an expansive footprint suitable for guest suites, creative studios, or private exhibition galleries.

The Ohio River Observation Tower: An extraordinary architectural asset, the central tower structure offers sweeping, elevated vistas across the historic Parkersburg skyline and out over the Ohio River.

🐎 Private Walled Garden & Mansard Coach House Compound

Extending behind the main residence is a private outdoor sanctuary that blends formal landscaping with historic outbuilding utility:

The Enclosed Walled Garden: Exit the rear of the manor into an intimate, brick-walled courtyard garden that creates a peaceful, private retreat for outdoor hosting and relaxation.

The Mansard-Roof Coach House: The garden pathway leads directly to a substantial two-story mansard-roofed coach house outbuilding. Outfitted with a functional multi-car garage and workspace area, this structure provides secure vehicle parking, a private workshop, or a prime candidate for an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) conversion.

📋 Property Specifications

💰 Price: $695,000 (A remarkable ~$119/sqft acquisition value for a 1-of-1 historic estate)

📍 Address: 904 Juliana St, Parkersburg, WV 26101 (Wood County / Julia-Ann Square Historic District)

📜 Architectural Standing: High Second Empire / Victorian Style (Designed by A.C. Nash, Cincinnati, OH)

🏛️ Provenance: Commissioned by Col. W.N. Chancellor (Founder of the Blennerhassett Hotel)

📐 Interior Size: 5,827 finished above-grade sqft (16 total rooms)

🌳 Lot Size: 0.28 Acres (12,197 sqft / Corner lot with private walled garden)

🛏️ Bedrooms: 4 (Extremely large chambers set across multi-tier floor plans)

🛁 Bathrooms: 3 Bathrooms

🏗️ Year Built: 1878 (Gilded Era / Continuous 5-generation single-family ownership)

🪵 Irreplaceable Assets: 13-ft ceilings, 64 windows, original walnut woodwork, 10-ft pocket doors, plaster cornices/brackets, 1870s marble fireplace, and an Ohio River tower

🚙 Outbuildings: Standalone mansard-roof coach house with garage and workshop spaces

🔍 Key Features & Preservation Value Points Explained

🏛️ Historic Provenance & Single-Family Stewardship: Sourcing a pre-war estate of this scale that has remained within a single family for 148 years guarantees an unprecedented level of structural preservation. The interior woodwork, plaster medallions, and historic glass have escaped invasive modern alterations.

💼 Outstanding Value Runway at ~ $119 Per Square Foot: Securing over 5,800 square feet of museum-grade Victorian architecture with a standalone carriage house for $695,000 represents exceptional real estate value compared to peer historic districts nationwide.

🌇 Irreplaceable Architectural Details: Features like true 13-foot ceilings, an Ohio River observation tower, 10-foot walnut double doors, and a salvaged 1870s federal marble mantle deliver a level of historical integrity that cannot be replicated in modern construction.

📍 Strategic Ohio River Valley Location: Located on Juliana Street, residents enjoy immediate proximity to the Blennerhassett Hotel, regional museums, local dining, and the Ohio Riverfront Park, while maintaining fast commuter access via US-50 and I-77 to Marietta, OH, and regional commercial hubs.