Nomination for Universal Terminal Company Dock and Warehouse

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service 1. Name 2. Location street & number - not for publication city, town - vicinity of - state - county - unoccupied _ museum X building(s) - private X commercial - structure - Site - object - in process - yes: unrestricted _ other: 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Cuyahoga County Administration Building - yes X no .

federal * local depositary for survey records Accessible date government Category None both entertainment educational code Ownership park historic Cleveland district industrial Status Public Acquisition Nicholson Cleveland Terminal Company scientific agriculture Inventory-Nomination Form private residence date entered Nicholson Cleveland Terminal Type all entries-complete applicable sections Universal Terminal Company Dock and Warehouse being considered Ohio Present Use 6. Representation in Existing Surveys 3. Classification religious 5451 North Marginal Road National Register of Historic Places (3-82) See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms work in progress X transportation has this property been determined eligible? For NPS use only 1219 Ontario NPS Form 10-900 and/or common title military code 035 public 7.

Description - original site _ excellent X altered - moved date L fair Summary: The Nicholson Cleveland Terminal, located on Lake Erie within depictions of ship anchors, a steamship plying the lakes, and an automobile Irame warehouse has been added on the east side, the terminal retains its Condition unexposed elevator. deteriorated unaltered architectural integrity and closely resembles photographs taken shortly concrete ornament specifically relating to the building's historic function The facade features ranks of vertical steel sash windows with concrete jecting corner piers. Check one sills; except for those in the fourth story, the sills are continuous.

building'swindows and doorways have been blocked up and a large steel- The facade features a symmetrical five-bay design, with a central pavilion The facade is embellished with concrete ornament, some of it specifically the central pavilion, there is a tripartite window with a Tudor arch characterized by unadorned concrete walls and bands of steel factory sash standards lamps are gone).An automobile tire bearing Mercury-like It is founded on piles and sheet piles, and a concrete pier runs the protective arm of the East Breakwater, is a large four-story building building's elevators;only one is used for the building's single freight UA- - ruins after it opened in 1929. of reinforced concrete construction. 100 feet wide by 550 feet long. I good mushroom, capitals and two automobile ramps.

Although a number of the tective arm of the East Breakwater, _is a large four-story building of a doorway, at ground level, with concrete surrounds; lancet windows on Ilanked by a pair of engaged columns that originally served as light containing the main entrance. the building on the west. There are bas-relief features red pressed brick with concrete trim.It is distinguished by the side elevations are faced with red pressed brick laid in common bond. relating to the building's historical function as a marine terminal and The symmetrical facade, Tudor in style, The piers at the corners of the facade each feature The windows are grouped in threes, and the groups are separated by pro- It is trapezoid in plan and measures tire with wings speed).The remainder of the building is Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

The facade and the first several bays of by four small penthouses built to accommodate the mechanisms for the A flat roof is interrupted The roof line is as a marine terminal and warehouse for automobiles. the length of the building on the west side. The building is 4 bays wide by 22 bays OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 For NPS use only date entered Universal Terminal Co. Dock and Warehouse, Cleveland, Cuy., Ohio Item number 7 steamship and two anchors, also in relief. "National Terminals Corporation," for example, is visible in several coal, and meter rooms; an attendant's toilet and washroom; and two automobile ramps. All are original features. places.

Page received Inventory-Nomination Form with unadorned concrete walls and horizontal bands of steel factory sash The Nicholson Cleveland Terminal is located on North Marginal Road, which National Register of Historic Places dropped ceilings, and carpeted and tiled floors National Park Service Continuation sheet have been remodeled into modern offices for the building's management runs parallel and immediately adjacent to the Cleveland Memorial Except for the facade, the building is thoroughly functional in appearance, United States Department of the Interior In the north and east elevations, the windows are stepped to accommodate Inside, the huge warehouse features regular rows of circular columns (3-82) NPS Form 10-900-a of the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company. with Ilared, or mushroom, capitals. the auto ramps built along the inside walls.

In some places, faded into windows. remnants of signs advertising the building's occupants can be seen; 55th Street interchange separate the terminal from the generating plant windows common to industrial structures of this period. Inside, the front portions of the first and second floors The symmetrical ranks of windows are interrupted by loading bays in the west elevation. In 1964,a one-story steel-frame addition with sheet-metal siding was anchors is depicted in relief.In the panels beneath the window are a There is a freight elevator; boiler, the Cleveland Municipal Light Plant are located to the west of the Areas of Significance-Check and justify below - prehistoric . sculpture .social/ X 1900- - politics/government X transportation - other (specify) Statement of

Statement of significance

(in one paragraph) dock and marine service facilities at Ecorse, Michigan, Captain William ornament, consisting of ships' anchors, a steamship plying the lakes, and Company of Cleveland, a major contractor responsible for building some of 1500-1599 1600-1699 1400-1499 1700-1799 economics invention engineering archeology-historic industry philosophy conservation architecture History theater Period humanitarian science military law exploration/settlement music literature authorizing the city manager to enter into an agreement with the Universal Terminal is associated with this period of Cleveland's commercial and Builder/Architect Hunkin-Conkey Construction Company/ the city's largest industrial plants and bridges.

Nicholson operated the Nicholson Universal Steamship Company with a fleet by the Nicholson shipping interests of Detroit.In addition to extensive and assess the Universal Terminal Company for costs related to construction. education primary depot for the shipment and storage of newsprint for the city's communications 8.

Significance proposed development and retained the right to construct a "truck highway" On December 3,1928,the Cleveland City Council passed an ordinance This four-story reinforced concrete dock and warehouse was built in 1929 Specific dates 1929 -agriculture Cleveland boomed as a lake port during the early twentieth century, and community planning _ landscape architecture- - religion X commerce was built by the Universal Terminal Company, an Ohio corporation controlled 17 million net tons, highest in history; total freight value that year, $230 million, was second only to that of 1929. The Nicholson Cleveland of twelve steamships for the transport of cargo to Great lakes ports. bulkhead, and to erect a structure in conformance with the plan of 1800-1899 art archeology-prehistoric The American Construction Company near East 55th Street.

The terminal as amarine terminal for automobiles shipped by water from Detroit.It The City granted Universal Terminal the right to exclusively for the unloading and warehousing of automobiles. dailies. The terminal's brick facade is vaguely Tudor in style.Concrete for the company's proposed dock and warehouse to be built on the lakefront a winged automobile tire, symbolizes the building's historic function. The Nicholson Cleveland Terminal was built by the Hunkin-Conkey Construction functioned this way from 1929 until served as the all rights of access to the waters of Lake Erie" in the location of the 9.

The rest of the file

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

Major Bibliographical References Cleveland City Directories, 1929-1977. Cleveland, Ohio. City of Cleveland. Department of Community Development, 10. Geographical Data UT M References - state 11. Form Prepared By 244 The Arcade, Cleveland, Ohio street & number 2940 Somerton Road 665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service. State Historic Preservation Officer signature Easting code county Zone Northing date organization Cleveland Heights name/title Verbal boundary description and justification national Attest: Acreage of nominated property Approx. 6.5 Building Division records.

Entered in the Quadrangle name Chief of Registration Cleveland North This boundary represent the original parcel on which the Universal Terminal Carol Poh Miller, Historic Preservation Consultant List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification Ohio The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register For NPs use only city or town permanent parcel number 105-01-006.It is 450 feet wide by 635 feet deep.

under contract with Harvey Oppmann February 1, 1983 As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89 local Quadrangle scale 1:24000 The nominated property consists of the lot identified by Cuyahoga County Keeper of the National Register NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 United States Department of the Interior Cleveland, Cuy. Co., Ohio Continuation sheet Dock and Warehouse Item number 8 project's architect, although blueprints of the structure in the building a firm that had built many of the city's large industrial plants, office on October 29, 1929. Division, Department of Community Development, City Hall. Page Universal Terminal Co. Inventory-Nomination Form (3-82) National Park Service three-decker cars to carry autos and successfully undercut shipping rates.

Green's Marine Directory of the Great Lakes for 1931 shows that Nicholson National Register of Historic Places carried by steamship to Cleveland, where they were unloaded and ware- on June 7,1929,2 suggests that the terminal initially was conceived engineer, sought permission to add two additional floors to the this way from 1929 until 1957,when the railroads developed specialized and New York:The World Publishing Company, 1950),p.615. nor the Cleveland Memorial Shoreway had yet been built),was to be of date entered locatedat East 54th Street and Lake North Marginal Road Cleveland of E.54th St."),and five other port cities on the The application, submitted by the Universal Steamship Company, with offices and docks at Chicago, Toledo, Detroit, For NPS use only property, and the property is designated as "Fill." The warehouse, was approved in July 1929.

Work began on August 8th and was completed Company, "general and marine contractors," Marion Building (1276 W. 3rd St.). concrete construction. received The permit associated with the terminal from the beginning. Property tax records show that the Universal Terminal Company assumed the Nicholson Transit Company, and the following year by the Nicholson An application for permit filed with the city's Division of Buildings Terminal Company and signed by Alfred Connors, the company's chief Universal Terminal Company is shown as the The Hunkin-Conkey Construction Company, The Universal Terminal dock and warehouse was built specifically for It is commonly believed, as a two-story warehouse.

by 55o feet in size, with a concrete dock running the length of the however, that Captain William Nicholson of Detroit, Michigan, was title to the property in 1928.In 1944,the property was acquired by NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No.1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 Univeral Terminal Co. Dock Steamship Company, with general offices in Detroit, owned and operated Cleveland city directories indicate that the terminal was occupied, from Shippers, Inc. (1935-1959). warehouse distribution of new Buicks, Oldsmobiles, and Pontiacs, but Co., 1931), pp. 47, 53, 58, 98, 386. Page two hours later. and Nicholson Universal Steamship companies are listed as occupants.

National Park Service in Cleveland of the steamer Coralia of the Nicholson Universal Steamship terminal warehouse for delivery to Cleveland auto National Register of Historic Places The Coralia's cargo was removed to the Universal freighters operated by the company.

Inventory-Nomination Form United States Department of the Interior The terminal functioned as a dock and warehouse for automobiles brought dealers, and the steamer left on her return trip interests included the Nicholson Terminal & Dock Company, with a machine Universal dock at E.54th Street at 8 yesterday (3-82) The first freighter of the season tied up at the An idea of how the terminal functioned is given in a small news item terminal from 1953 until 1971,suggests how the building's function Continuation sheet and Warehouse The article noted that the Coralia was one of a fleet of eleven steel date entered back hauling by railroads."In 1963,the building still handled the Co., with 25o automobiles from Detroit": For NPS use only shop, fuel dock, and bulk freight water terminal and rail transfer at transportation'; 1931-1936, 1947-1951); National Terminals Corporation by ship until 1957.

A profile of Scott B. Worden, who managed the Cleveland terminal from 1929 until 1942. The Nicholson Universal morning. Nicholson's other Ecorse, Michigan.5 The trip from Detroit took nine hours. Itemnumber After 1931,the list of firms at this address grew to as many as nine at a single time, including such companies as Boutell received OMB No.1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 Item number 8 brought by ship from six ports in Canada. According to Worden, both Cleveland Public Library.

Bell, employed by Chelm Management Company, has worked in the building Item Number 9 -- continued Page National Park Service Inventory-Nomination Form Continuation sheet had become the unloading and warehousing of newsprint for the Cleveland National Register of Historic Places building occasionally still houses automobiles for distribution to local Nicholson Warehouse Distribution, Inc., a distributor of general United States Department of the Interior date entered Green Marine Directory of the Great Lakes Co.,1931. since 1957. Company erected its dock and warehouse. merchandise; Top Brands, Inc., an appliance distributor; and Western in Clevelander in 1961,which noted the terminal's "vital"role in the NPS Form 10-900-a Far NPS use only publishing industry, remarked that a unique aspect of the warehouse "is lakes. "7 received 6september 19, 1963.

(3-82) Chelm Management Company has Reserve Communications. The building is currently occupied by the Press and Plain Dealer brought some newsprint by rail during the the terminal to increase its capacity. In 1964,a 48,000-square-foot addition was built on the east side of storage.Newsprint is no longer shipped or stored there, but the through most of the winter.S managed the facility since 1971. WASO Form - 177 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ("R" June 1984) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Universal Terminal Company Dock and Working No. _ Fed. Reg. Date: Date Due: 2/8/83 nomination by person or local government _ REJECT owner objection Federal Agency: . -sample -request -appeal _ see continuation sheet _ technical corrections cited below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification Public Acquisition 4. Owner of Property 5.

Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys 7. Description -unaltered -original site - moved Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance summary paragraph boundary selection Category resubmission Accessible excellent Status Ownership yes Condition Date unexposed Recom./Criteria Reviewer Discipline Warehouse completeness RETURN OHIO alterations/integrity clarity Cuyahoga County Substantive Review: deteriorated fair Nomination returned for: NR decision Reviewer's comments: _substantive reasons discussed below Present Use Check one Has this property been determined eligible? National Regteter Bntered in the AUG AUG91983 ruins 9/23/83 goo Areas of Significance-Check and justify below justification of exception Other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property 11.

Form Prepared By State Historic Preservation Officer signature J Photographs clarity Date Builder/Architect Signed completeness Period national context UTM References Phone Maps local The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification Specific dates Quadrangle name relating significance to the resource _state 8.

Significance applicable criteria Verbal boundary description and justification Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to summary paragraph relationship of integrity to significance justification of areas checked Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet title Warehouse, Cleveland, Ohio Carol Poh Miller photograph, January Facade and west elevation, looking 1983 northeast Universal Terminal Company Dock and Negative property of Harvey Oppmann, Photograph #1 244 The Arcade, Cleveland,Ohio Warehouse, Cleveland, Ohio Carol Poh Miller photograph, January 244 The Arcade, Cleveland, Ohio 1983 Negative property of Harvey Oppmann, West elevation, looking northeast Photograph #2 Universal Terminal Company Dock and 5451 N.

MARGINAL ROAD 545 1 YOUR STEP WATCH Warehouse, Cleveland, Ohio Carol Poh Miller photograph, January 244 The Arcade, Cleveland, Ohio 1983 Photograph #3 Negative property of Harvey Oppmann, Facade detail: central entrance Universal Terminal Company Dock and Warehouse, Cleveland, Ohio Carol Pon Miller photograph, January 244 The Arcade, Cleveland, Ohio 1983 Universal Terminal Company Dock and Negative property of Harvey Oppmann, Facade detail: central pavilion Photograph #4 Warehouse, Cleveland, Ohio Carol Poh Miller photograph, January 1983 Universal Terminal Company Dock and showing 1964 warehouse addition Photograph #5 East elevation, looking northwest, 244 The Arcade, Cleveland, Ohio Negative property of Harvey Oppmann, Warehouse, Cleveland, Ohio 244 The Arcade, Cleveland, Ohio 1ooking southwest 1983 Universal Terminal Company Dock and Negative property of Harvey Oppmann, Photograph #6 Carol Poh Miller photograph, January North (rear) and east elevations, Warehouse, Cleveland, Ohio Location on North Marginal Road Shoreway.

Downtown Cleveland can 1983 Negative property of Harvey Oppmann, Photograph #7 adjacent to the Cleveland Memorial Universal Terminal Company Dock and Carol Poh Miller photograph, January be seen in the distance at left. Universal Terminal, showing its 244 The Arcade,Cleveland,Ohio Warehouse, Cleveland, Ohio Photographer unknown, ca. 1932 Oppmann, 244 The Arcade, Cleveland, Universal Terminal, looking northwest, ca. 1932 Universal Terminal Company Dock and Photograph #8 Ohio Copy negative property of Harvey Warehouse, Cleveland, Ohio Photographer unknown, ca. 1936 Oppmann, 244 The Arcade, Cleveland, 1936, shows the terminal's rein- forced concrete construction. View Photograph #10 ramp at the right. Copy negative property of Harvey Universal Terminal Company Dock and This excellent interior view, ca. is looking north. Note the auto Ohio Warehouse, Cleveland, Ohio Photographer unknown, ca.

1929 Oppmann, 244 The Arcade, Cleveland, Universal Terminal Company Dock and Copy negative property of Harvey Photograph #1i Universal Terminal: Model A Fords in transit on one of the terminal's auto ramps, ca. 1929 OHIO-CUYAHOGA CC CLEVELAND NORTH QUADRANGLE CLEVELAND NORTH, OHIO DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 7.5 MINUTE SER ES (TOPOGRAPHIC) UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY