Nomination for Welsbach Building

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 received NOV. 1 4 1984 See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms and/or common street & number - not for publication city, town - vicinity of X state . district X unoccupied - agriculture . museum X building(s) . X private - park Structure _ work in progress - in process X yes: restricted _ scientific - yes: unrestricted X industrial - military 4. Owner of Property Ohio 43215 5. Location of Legal Description depositary for survey records 049 1975 039 both transportation government Category code county Franklin Accessible entertainment commercial site date Public Acquisition other: Columbus historic educational Status object religious title public private residence National Register of Historic Places Present Use Inventory-Nomination Form 6.

Representation in Existing Surveys being considered (3-82) Ohio Historic Preservation Office date entered Welsbach Building Ownership Ohio Historic Inventory Ohio National Park Service Mr. Reid Wasserstrom; Co-owner and represenative of ownership interests 3. Classification Type all entries-complete applicable sections 2. Location 477 South Front Street For NPS use only NPS Form 10-900 United States Department of the Interior 1. Name 1l6-ll8 East Chestnut Street has this property been determined eligible?

- _ yes X no federal local X original site X altered - moved Constructed in 1906, the Welsbach Building is a five-story brick and limestone industrial iron spot brick and has limestone foundation, sill, keystone, and diamond pattern accent at the front, 62.5 feet (3 bays) in width, and 180 feet (12 bays) in length and contains Stylistically, the facade of the Welsbach Building is especially interesting because a single element crowned with a keystoned, segmental arch, and belted at the floor Welsbach Building, on the other hand, demonstrate an unmistakable horizontal organization have been remodeled circa 1960 and consists of ceramic tile spandrels, aluminum framing, suspended, wooden edged canopy over the center entry bay is almost certainly not original and 17) light configuration beneath segmental masonry arches, on the north side. (See photos #4 double-leafed wooden doors.

(see photo #7) Apparently for security reasons, several of Condition system consists of load bearing limestone and brick masonry walls, heavy timber columns-- at its midpoint which has had its double-hung sash removed and has been covered over in The east and north side fenestration of the Welsbach Building, except for the brief reinforced with iron at the basement level--and heavy timber girders with light wood Check one still exists on the east side facade return and shows that the original transom line was a base element and the second through fourth floor double-hung windows organized into broad comgination double-hung and fixed sash window openings and by the horizontal brick 7.

Description The ground level, Chestnut Street storefront of the Welsbach Building appears to excellent vertical organization is similar to that employed in the renovated office building to the Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

and#5)Three loading doorways exist atintervals along the first floor levels of both differentiated asa distinct layer,and the sense of horizonality is reinforcedby the the east and north sides of the building for the transfer of materials in and out of window openings,ina1over1light configuration on the.east side,and a4over4 reveals between and alongside them. (See photo #17). maintained during the storefront remodeling. (See photo #6) A relatively crude, cable facade return at the southeast corner, consists of punched double hung wooden sash date unexposed deteriorated ruins fair unaltered it is divided into two distinct design modes, one vertically expressive, the other in recent years.

the first floor window openings along the secondary sides have been partially bricked up and plate photo #l8)Evidence of the original wooden storefront detailing recent years with corrugated metal photos#8and #9) The west side of the building is a solid brick party wall with a light well original front cornice may have been rebuilt or replaced at some photos #1 west(left)of the Welsbach Building.(See photo #2).The western two bays of the NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp.

10-31-84 Welsbach Building, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio Item number 7 Over the years, two one-story garage additions have been constructed along the west brick and concrete block with brick veneer construction, have punched steel sash and tectural character, was built circa 1950, is faced in iron spot brick, and has a and timber members, open ceiling and roof joists, and unfinished hardwood flooring.

all floors and in the basement, except for the southern two-thirds (8 bays) of the Page received National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form date entered ing, and miscellaneous millwork--represent non-period additions with no particular are ancillary ones for storage, service stairways, and utilities, and are fabricated first floor where the sales and office areas once existed.The primary significant National Park Service historic feature of these spaces is the pressed metal ornamental ceiling and beams The interior of the Welsbach Building consists primarily of exposed masonry walls architectural interest.(See photo #i3)The other enclosed spaces in the building small corbeled brick course along its parapet.

United States Department of the Interior Continuation sheet a variety of overhead service door openings, and enclose approximately 7,800 square (3-82) For NPS use only feet of floor area. The garage facade, which has essentially no particular archi- #13 and #14) The other interior elements in these areas--partitions, doors, panel- of various wood and plaster materials. (See photo #15) photos #ll and #l2)The interior is essentially without finished surfaces on side of the primary photos #8 and #10)These additions are of solid Areas of SignificanceCheck and justify below - prehistoric _ archeology-historic - sculpture . social/ X 1900- - politics/government _transportation - other (specify) Jacob S.

Goldsmith Like its nearby neighbor, the Carr Building, (NR: 2/24/83) the Welsbach Building displaced by a concentration of new office towers, parking facilities, and a hotel/ to utilize the design capabilities brought about in part by the development of steel frame career of local architect Jacob S. Goldsmith, was in Columbus, Ohio revolutionary for construction, each story is differentiated as a distinct horizontal layer through the use of very long, continuous limestone sills and lightly defined brick panels, and exceptionally broad, steel-supported window openings which are visually lengthened design which demonstrate a more traditional, vertically-oriented mode of organization crowned by a keystoned segmental arch.

Closest to the Lazelle Street rail spur, the if not the first to articulate in Columbus, Ohio the pragmatic dictum which later came 1906 commerce 1800-1899 1500-1599 1700-1799 1400-1499 economics humanitarian education theater engineering Period invention military Builder/Architect music conservation industry literature Specific dates agriculture 8.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance industrial design. law that Jacob Goldsmith reflected this organic vertical and horizontal interior flow of to dominate twentieth century American architecture: form follows function. Depot and most of the significant structures associated with the rail yards are gone, function which were stylistic elements of early modern architecture. distinct variation in its architecture as a precursor of twentieth century modern reminders of the area's commercial and regionally symbolic significance. Criterion C region's earliest manifestation of real strength as a transportation and wholesale _communications century warehouse building in the city's north end commercial area which displays by carefully crafted horizontal striations in the brickwork alongside and between them.

construction.;The building displays the horizontallmassing and distinct expression of bay and were moved horizontally into and out of storage in the west bays.It is clear Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

(in one paragraph) freight elevator located just inside the rail loading doors toward the front of the building.Materials came in and out and traveled vertically by elevator in the east distribution center, and was crowned by Daniel H. Burnham's magnificant Urion Depot and 1850,the area had grown by the end of the nineteenth century into the Central Ohio -science - archeology-prehistoric - community planning - religion X architecture . philosophy convention center.

The Welsbach Building is architecturally significant in Columbus as a early twentieth The facade design of the west bays of the Welsbach Building, produced early in the The eastern corner bays of the same facade displays a contrasting and even contradictory east bay of the building is pierced vertically through its five stories by a capacious 1600-1699 exploration/settlement art landscape architecture early twentieth century structure is the earliest known industrial structure in Columbus, of the Statehouse in Columbus.From its modest beginning with the first railroad in its time.In an obvious attempt to emulate the design freedom afforded by steel frame The Welsbach Building is representative of a new trend in architectural design, materials in the exterior face of the building.The Welsbach Building was one of the first was once part of the region's vast rail-based commercial complex just one mile north Only the Welsbach Building and a handful of survivors remain as 9.

The rest of the file

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

Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data Quadrangle scale -1:24,000 Lots 4 & 5 of Mann's Heirs Subdivision further 62.5' x 187.5' at the northwest corner of Chestnut and Lazelle Streets. -_ state 11. Form Prepared By Damon W. Baker date August 6, 1984 street & number (614) 443-0900 Columbus, Ohio - national 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. county code Easting date Northing organization telephone name/title Attest: local Entered in the Chief of Registration Verbal boundary description and justification 12.

State Historic Preservation Officer Certification UTM References State Historic Preservation Officer signature The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries R.L.Polk and Co's Columbus Directory 1903 through 1932 Lighting Through the Years by Bill Poese,1976,page 88 (614) 228-6321 Moody's Industrial Manuals l9l0 to the present 81 South Fifth Street Sweet s indexed Catalogue 1906,pg.409 For NPs use only city or town National Register Zone Columbus, 1976, pg.

iv SHP As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89 Architecture: Keeper of the National Register J hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register FOR HCRS USE ONLY HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM Welsbach Building, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 8 center, and as a unique local representative of early twentieth century industrial architecture.

PAGE FHR-8-300A DATE ENTERED continuing national commercial importance as a transportation and wholesale distribution UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (11/78) The Welsbach Building stands today as a symbol of the Central Ohio region's early and WASO Form - 177 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (R" June 1984) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Fed. Reg. Date: _ nomination by person or local government owner objection Federal Agency: . -appeal -sample - NR decision Reviewer's comments: Date Due: 0 Nomination returned for: _technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification Public Acquisition 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 7.

Description -unaltered - original site - moved ruins request resubmission REJECT yes Condition deteriorated Ownership completeness unexposed Discipline Status Reviewer RETURN National Register Recom./Criteria Category Entered in the Action: summary paragraph Substantive Review: Welsbach Building good boundary selection alterations/integrity ACCEPT Franklin County Present Use Has this property been determined eligible? 6. Representation in Existing Surveys see continuation sheet excellent Check one Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance Accessible Working No. fair clarity relating significance to the resource relationship of integrity to significance Jjustification of exception Other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data 11. Form Prepared By 12.

State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to _ Phone: Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet Builder/Architect context state Date national Signed local clarity completeness title Photographs Quadrangle name Maps UTM References applicable criteria Specific dates summary paragraph Verbal boundary description and justification Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) justification of areas checked 8.

Significance State Historic Preservation Officer signature Acreage of nominated property Areas of Significance-Check and justify below Period Columbus, Ohio August 1, 1984 Welsbach Manufacturing Company building Franklin County 116-118 East Chesnut Street Front elevation Columbus, Chio August 1, 1984 Franklin County Adjacent buildings Welsbach Manufacturing Company building 116-118 East Chestnut Street Columbus, Ohio July 27, 1984 Welsbach Manufacturing Company building Franklin County 116-118 East Chestnut Street East arched bay Columbus, Ohio August 1, 1984 Franklin County 116-118 East Chestnut Street Welsbach Manufacturing Company building Right side elevation ARCHITECTS Columbus, Ohio August 1, 1984 Rear (north) elevation Welsbach Manufacturing Company building Franklin County 116-118 East Chestnut Street Columbus, Ohio July 27, 1984 East side storefront return Welsbach Manufacturing Company building Franklin County 116-118 East Chestnut Street Columbus, Ohio July 27, 1984 Franklin County Welsbach Manufacturing Company building East side loading doors 116-118 East Chesnut Street Columbus, Ohio July 27, 1984 Franklin County Welsbach Manufacturing Company building 116-118 East Chestnut Street Left side (west) elevation Columbus, Ohio July 27, 1984 Franklin County Welsbach Manufacturing Company building 116-118 East Chestnut Street Second floor west wall window well detail & COMPANY THE JONES WITTER Columbus, Ohio August 1, 1984 Franklin County 116-118 East Chestnut Street Welsbach Manufacturing Company building Southwest elevation Columbus, Ohio July 27, 1984 Franklin County First floor columns and ceiling in rear Welsbach Manufacturing Company building third of building 116-118 East Chestnut Street Columbus, Ohio July 27, 1984 corner Welsbach Manufacturing Company building Franklin County 116-118 East Chestnut Street Fifth (top) floor east bay at southeast Columbus, Ohio July 27, 1984 Franklin County Storefront columns and ceiling 116-118 East Chestnut Street Welsbach Manufacturing Company building Columbus, Ohio July 27, 1984 Franklin County Welsbach Manufacturing Company building third of building First floor columns and ceiling in middle 116-118 East Chestnut Street July 27, 1984 Welsbach Manufacturing Company building Franklin County Third floor west wall closet detail 116-118 East Chestnut Street Columbus,Ohio Columbus, Ohio July 27, 1984 Diamond pattern detail Welsbach Manufacturing Company building Franklin County 116-118 East Chestnut Street Columbus, Ohio July 27, 1984 Welsbach Manufacturing Company building Franklin County 116-118 East Chestnut Street West bay windows Columbus, Ohio August 1, 1984 Welsbach Manufacturing Company building 116-118 East Chestnut Street Franklin County Front (south) storefront Columbus, Ohio August 1, 1984 Welsbach Manufacturing Company building Franklin County Alley with railroad tracks along east side of building 116-118 East Chestnut Street Columbus, Ohio August 1, 1984 Franklin County Welsbach Manufacturing Company building West bay window detail 116-118 East Chestnut Street 7.5 MINUTE SERIES (TOPOGRAPHIC UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR SOUTHEAST COLUMBUS QUADRANGLE SOUTHEAST COLUMBUS, OHIO OHIO-FRANKLIN CO Welsbach Building County, Ohio UTM: 17 329300 N3952 5-W82525/75 AUG 9 1984 477 South Front Street Columbus, Ohio 43215 August 1, 1984 Dr.

Ray Luce Ohio State Historie Preservation Officer 1982 Velma Avenue Dear Dr. Luce: of the five-story masonry warehouse at 116 East Chestnut Street, Columbus, Ohio, I hereby affirm that the owners of the building concur with its nomination Wasserstrom Enterprises Ohio Historic Preservation Office Yours truly As co-owner and as authorized representative of the ownership interests for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Reid Wasserstrom City of Columbus Mayor Dana G. Rinehart City Hall Columbus, Ohio 43215-4184 (614) 222-7671 August 6, 1984 Ray Luce Ohio Historic Preservation Office 1985 Velma Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43211 Dear Dr.

Luce: The City of Columbus, having been notified of the intent to nominate the Welsback Building, located at 116 Chestnut Street, to the National Register of In order to expedite listing, the City would like to request that at the August 24 meeting of the Ohio DGR/KB/ s1 The City of Columbus is an Equal Opportunity Employer Mayor Sincerely, Historic Sites Preservation Advisory Board the preliminary property and wish to encourage its continued use. Ohio Historical Society Historic Places, is pleased to endorse such listing. We recognize the architectural significance of this Dana G.Rinehart hearing be waived in favor of a final hearing. Office of the Mayor 1985 Velma Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43211 November 7, 1984 Ms. Carol Shull, Chief 1100 L Street, N.W. W.

Ray Luce 614/466-1500 SOCIETY enclosures HISTORICAL Sincerely, Dear Carol: State Historic Preservation Officer National Register of Historic Places National Park Service federal level and do everything possible to expedite the nomination. Department of the Interior Ohio Historic Preservation Office of Columbus and the owners requesting the property be listed as expeditiously Please contact me if you have any questions. SINCE 1885 Washington, D.C. 20240 Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. We have received letters from the City OHIO Enclosed isa new National Register nomination for the Welsbach Building, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE TIME OF CALL - FROM (Name) 2. ADDRESS (Tel. No. if needed) June 1978 DATE TELEPHONE REPORT DETAILS OF DISCUSSION CALL NRHP Pleare Note: