Decorative drawing: a three-storey commercial block with shopfronts below and windows above. Not a photograph of this place.

Nomination for Metropolitan Block

The case file that argued this property on to the National Register: 1,671 words across 10 pages, filed in 1979. Read by 4 independent recognisers, of which at least 3 had to agree before a line was published.

Source document Held by the National Archives in Record Group 79 as reference 79001780, where it exists only as a scan with no text layer. The words below were read off that scan by 4 independent recognisers at two resolutions. Only lines that at least 3 of them returned identically appear below; where they disagreed, the line is withheld rather than guessed, so some of the form's furniture is missing. Spelling is never corrected, so a stray character that all the readers agreed on is the recogniser's and the typewriter's.. Nothing is summarised, corrected or written by this site. See the catalogue record, or return to the property.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form No. 10-300 REV.
(9/77) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FOR NPS USE ONLY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RECEIVED OCT 25 1979 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM DATE ENTERED SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS AND/OR COMMON STREET & NUMBER _NOT FOR PUBLICATION CITY, TOWN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT - VICINITY OF Tennyson Guyer, District 4 PRESENT USE X_BUILDING(S) X-COMMERCIAL -WORK IN PROGRESS - PRIVATE RESIDENCE -IN PROCESS - YES: RESTRICTED BEING CONSIDERED OWNER OF PROPERTY LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS 003 LOCATION Lima COUNTY CODE DATE CLASSIFICATION Columbus ACCESSIBLE BOTH HISTORIC AGRICULTURE MUSEUM CATEGORY ENTERTAINMENT STATE NAME 039 DISTRICT OWNERSHIP PARK RELIGIOUS INDUSTRIAL SCIENTIFIC MILITARY PUBLIC STATUS Metropolitan Block TITLE Allen PUBLIC ACQUISITION 300 North Main Street Stippich Hardware Main & North Streets February 1979 _TRANSPORTATION Ohio Historic Preservation Office James & Norbert Stippich COURTHOUSE, _UNOCCUPIED _STRUCTURE XPRIVATE - EDUCATIONAL Ohio Historic Inventory ALL-l0l-8 - GOVERNMENT Ohio _OBJECT SITE XYES: UNRESTRICTED _FEDERAL XSTATE _COUNTY _LOCAL _OTHER: DESCRIPTION X UNALTERED X_ORIGINAL SITE _MOVED DATE.
DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

outstanding commercial building in Lima. It is in near-original condition, lacking by the owners since 1936 as a hardware. The door type is single leaf, 1 panel, at the commercial entrances and half-leaf continuous trim, and at, the ends they are double with continuous flat head trim. on the thrid story, and segmental arch on the fourth, with the same arrangement as by two small double-hung windows. Iwo smaller gabled dormers with double two-sash The interior of the first floor has iron posts, pressed metal ceiling, and is A 30' skylight airshaft and two 10' skylights flood the interior with light from the CONDITION original.
UNEXPOSED DETERIORATED EXCELLENT RUINS CHECK ONE XFAIR Third and fourth story windows are continuous trim with stilted segmental arch arched windows are separated by single windows with flat stone lintels and brackets double-story height with a wire mezzanine containing hardwares on the north side. This circa 1890 Victorian Romanesque 5-story brick and stone building is the most floor has two large gabled dormers with two tall double transomed windows flanked third level. There is some water damage on the upper stories from roof leaks.One window transomed windows and continuous stone trim head surrounds are between the larger is square with nine bays on the Main-Street facade and nine-on-the North Street side.
for each floor..The side has two single exterior triple-stepped chimneys that rise The foundation is rubble limestone with cut stone water table visible on the south There are three Main Street entrances with the corner entrance at an angle set three small two-sash windows with mullion. The second story front has two sets of triple round arched windows with stone frame on the 4th floor need reconstructed. except for the corner bay and the ends.At the corner bay windows are triple set, only the conical tower on the southwest rounded corner bay. from the first floor between an adiusted spacing of windows in the wide gabled - GOOD It retains the original storefront facade with cast iron posts and transom windows The main door architraves are flush with light transom panels. with two blind panels at the center door. North Street side is solid brick wall with of lavender squares.
Originally it housed the Metropolitan Bank plus a dry goods store, grocery, legal offices, and music store. The first floor and basement have been utilized side. The wall construction is brick loadbearing with double firewall. The pattern is running bond brick with stone ornamentation. The hip roof is slate. The plan shape back behind iron posts. Entrance to the upper floors is centered, the other store round arched windows, only thé first has"stone imposts and pilasters. The round dormers. The chimney fronts contain round arched blind windows on the second and roof to the second story. Windows are floor to ceiling. Floors and woodwork are gables. entrance is north. All windows are wood frame two-sash with transoms. The north side formerly abutted an older large building. voussoirs ending on stone imposts and brick pilasters.The side has four large single AREAS OF

Statement of significance

from the 1850's, but it became a boomtown after oil was discovered in 1885. The population tripled--from 7,000 in 1880 to over 21,000 in 1900--and ornate Victorian In the 1950's the downtown area declined econonically and when the malls were Second Empire Allen County Courthouse, already on the National Register, makes the Metropolitan Block important to Lima's revitalization. 1400-1499 LAW 1600-1699 removed. X1800-1899 ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC ART RELIGION buildings.
SIGNIFICANCE AGRICULTURE PERIOD THEATER SCIENCE EDUCATION BUILDER/ARCHITECT PHILOSOPHY INDUSTRY SCULPTURE MILITARY MUSIC TRANSPORTATION LITERATURE EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT 1900- building conversion.There are potential buyers who are interested in the Tax _COMMUNICATIONS This five-story building is architecturally significant because it is probably retains its original integrity.The Faurot Opera House and Lima Inn were razed.The _CONSERVATION - ENGINEERING XCOMMERCE _PREHISTORIC the most outstanding example of Victorian Romanesque commercial architecture in the Central Business District Redevelopment Plans call for possible.residential Lima is the largest landlocked city in Northwest Ohio.It was a railroad center _OTHER(SPECIFY) Of those elegant Victorian buildings only the Metropolitan Block remains or built west of town to serve a five-county area business owners vacated the downtown -1700-1799 architecture reflected the new wealth.
area. North from Lima's Public Square in the early 1900's were at least four multi- Reform Act of 1976 for the Metropolitan Block's rehabilitation as a potential INVENTION restaurant and lawyers offices.Its key location across Main Street from the French Mitchell Block and Cambridge Hotel have had turrets and one or more upper stories storied buildings with,canvas awnings, towers and turrets, complete with flags:

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Allen County Historical Society, Allen County Museum, Lima, Ohio: Lima City Directories, 1890-1914 Sanborn City Maps, 1911, revised 1914-1950 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA QUADRANGLE NAME - Lima, Ohio QUADRANGLE SCALE 1:24000 VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION.- 11 FORM PREPARED BY NAME / TITLE STREET & NUMBER Ohio State University, Lima Branch CITY OR TOWN 12 STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER CERTIFICATION THE EVALUATED SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROPERTY WITHIN THE STATE IS: NATIONAL - LOCAL V As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Préservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665).I criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service.
STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER SIGNATURE FOR NPS USE ONLY KEEPER OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER GPO 921-803 COUNTY ORGANIZATION DATE NORTHING CODE 228-4261 TELEPHONE STATE ZONE 4/28/79 Photographic files UTM REFERENCES 1890 Photographs of Lima UTM NOT VERIFIED Lima/Allen County Survey ZONE EASTING ATTEST: Phyllis G. Hopkins, Survey Coordinator hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the I HEREBY CERTIEY THAT THIS PROPERTYS ICLODED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER North Street bounds to the south, North Main Street to the west.
SHPO Working Number /0.25.79,2594 Photos - ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN Inventory - Send-back - Re-submit - OTHER KEEPER ARCHEOLOGIST CONTROL Maps HISTORIAN HAER State TECHNICAL Review National Register Write-up REVIEW UNIT CHIEF United States Department of the Interior-Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service Federal Register Entry BRANCH CHIEF 2-5-80 18905 Entered -NOV 29 1979 Property WOBC, No. #10 OCT 2 5 1979 NOV 2 9: 1979 Metropolitan Block Phyllis Hopkins, Photog. facing northeast LIMA, OHIO DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE OF OHIO LIMA QUADRANGLE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 7.5 MINUTE SERIES (TOPOGRAPHIC 744480, 451402 1961 Ohio Historical Center I-71 & 17th Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43211 (614) 466-1500 October 18, 1979 Mr. Charles Herrington, Acting Keeper National Register of Historic Plcees 440 G Street, N.W. Washington, D. C. 20243 Dear Mr.
Herrington: Boesel, Adolph, House Maltby, Henry, House Thomson, Peter G., Residence Adams, George W. House Rider, Adam, House Anderson, William M., House St. Peters Church Licking County MetropolitanBlock Medina County Richland County Hamilton County Franklin County REGISTER Cuyahoga County Muskingum County Ohio Historic Preservation Office Parmelee House Athens County Keystone Furnace Fairfield County Courthouse Center Hock-Hocking Wine Cellar NATIONAL Lincoln School Pickaway Ross County RECEIVED Michaels Farm Jackson County Otterbein Mausoleum Herron Gymnasium Butler County Mahoning County Crawfis Institute Pennsylvania Railway Station Athens Governmental Buildings Higby House Hruby Conservatory of Music Seneca County Knox County Shepard Street School Warner Theater Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service Auglaize County Mill Road Bowstring Bridge our intent to nominate.
Industrial Buildings of Tiffin Department of the Interior Allen County Madam Fredin's Eden Park School OCT 2 5 1979 A approved by the state review board and the owners have been informed of Enclosed are 3l regular nominations and 2 resubmissions.All have been Mr. Charles Herrington Page 2 Loew-Define Grocery Store & Home Wayne County Home Lee, Samuel, House David L. Brook DLB: cw Resubmissions Sincerely, enclosures Union County Stark County Coshocton County Montgomery County Mason House State Historic Preservation Officer Washington County was relocated) Elmwood Place Waernicke-Hille House & Store Let me know if we can provide any additional information. STATE OHIO NOV 29 1979 Thomson, Peter G., House (Laurel Court) Boesel, Adolph House Anderson, William Marshall, House Honorable Howard M. Metzenbaum Honorable John H. Glenn, JI. Mr. David Brook - Honorable Thomas A.
Luken Honorable Delbert L. Latta Columbus, Ohio 43211 Location Kansas Name Union County New Bremen Circleville Lincoln School Row House Irwin Michaels Farm Date Entered Pickaway County Seneca County Hamilton County Honorable Tennyson Guyer Higby House Elmwood Place Cincinnati Honorable Clarence J. Brown Also Notified Auglaize County Metropolitan Block Chillicothe State Historic Preservation Officer Allen County Madam Fredin's Eden Park School and Neighboring ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER Honorable William H. Harsha Lima Ross County The Ohio Historical Society Honorable Willis D. Gradison, Jr. Interstate 7l at 17th Avenue Time & Date - Senator Office of - They called - We called Action required or taken Oct.
79 FHR-8-285 Congressperson Congressional State Received Congressional Contact Report Name United States Office Division Additional comments Referred to Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service Nature of request Department of the Interior Cong Time Contact