Nomination for Brewster Railroad YMCA/Wandle House

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

NPS Form 10-900 (3-82) OMB No.1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms Type all entries - complete applicable sections 1. Name For NPS use only received FEB date entered 6 1985 MAR historic Brewster Railroad YMCA;Wandle House and or common Wandle House 2. Location street & number 45 South Wabash Avenue - not for publication Brewster city, town vicinity of Ohio state 3.

Classification Category Ownership district public X building(s) x private structure both site Public Acquisition object in process Deing considered code 039 county Stark code 151 Status _ occupied _ unoccupied - work in progress Accessible X yes: restricted - yes: unrestricted no Present Use agriculture commercial educational _ entertainment _government - industrial military X museum park private residence religious scientific transportation other: 4. Owner of Property name Brewster-Sugar Creek Township Historical Society street & number 45 South Wabash Avenue city, town Brewster . vicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description state OH 44613 courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Stark County Recorder's Office street & number County Office Building city, town Canton 6. Representation in Existing Surveys state OH 44702 title Ohio Historic Inventory has this property been determined eligible?

- yes x_ no date 1981 federalx state county - local depository for survey records Ohio Historic Preservation Office city, town Columbus state Ohio -T 1985 7. Description Condition excellent x good x fair _ deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one unaltered X altered Check one & original site _ moved date Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

The Wandle House is a two-story building constructed in 1916 by the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad as a 65 -room railroad YMCA to house employees on layover at the central junction of the RR system. The building sits on the west side of Wabash Avenue in Brewster, just south of the railroad yards and adjoining Brewster's commercial section. The Wandle House is U-shaped, with two wings extending west from the main block of the building. The southern wing is two stories and the northern wing is one story in height. Other than a change from a stucco to a brick finish in the early 1920s, the exterior is essentially The Wandle House was built as a fifty-four bed dormitory and restaurant. The foundation is masonry block and brick, with a full basement, and wall construction is framed with - sith running-bond brick.

The main two story block is 93 feet long and 34 feet wide, with a 52 foot long central porch facing east onto Wabash Avenue. Entrance to the building is obtained through double wood-framed glass doors surmounted by a five-light transom. The ground floor front facade also features six wood-sash triple hung 6 over 6 windows with three-light upper sashes. Thirteen double hung 1 over 1 windows line the second story. Each connecting wing, 62 feet long by 27 feet wide, also features double hung 1 over 1 windows. The cornice is plain and the hipped roof is shingled. The interior featured not only sleeping rooms but also a restaurant, a theater room in the north wing, meeting rooms, a shooting gallery, and a two-lane bowling alley in the basement. The railroad later laid a four lane alley running east-west over the old north-south two land facility.

Although closed in 1958 because the railroad would not convert to automatic pin-setting equipment, the bowling alley still remains in its original condition. The restaurant was converted to a snack counter in 1964 by the Norfolk & Western RR, and survives today in that configuration. The only significant exterior alteration to the Wandle House was made in the period 1920-1923 Following a fire, the stuccoed exterior was refinished with brick, although the porch and two chimneys still retain the original stucco; the building thus pre- sents essentially the same appearance today that it has had for most of its history. The only interior alterations of note involved enlarging several rooms in the south wing for a caretaker's apartment, and enlarging the theater room in the north wing by removing an interior wall.

The wrought iron fire escape dates at least to the period of the fire, and may be original. There are no associated outbuildings.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance Period prehistoric 1400-1499 1500-1599 1600-1699 1700-1799 1800-1899 X 1900- Areas of SignificanceCheck and justify below archeology-prehistoric community planning archeology-historic conservation agriculture economics architecture education art engineering commerce exploration/settlement communications industry invention landscape architecture. law literature military music - philosophy - politics/government - religion science sculpture social/ humanitarian theater transportation .other (specify) Specific dates 1916 Builder

Statement of significance

/Architect B1dr: Wheeling & Lake Erie RR Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) The Wandle House is one of the two most prominent railroad buildings in Brewster, a town founded and built by the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad as the railroad headquarters and a home for its employees. Within the context of Brewster's development as a railroad town, the Wandle (W and L E) House, is significant under Criterion A as representing the totally interdependent association of Brewster and its development with the 20th century expansion and transformation of the railroads. Development of Brewster began in 1904 when the W & LE RR decided to relocate its major yards to relieve inadequate facilities at Massillon and to provide housing for employees at the central transfer point on the system.

"In most instances, large railroad facilities grew up next door to previously established communities, but such was not the case at Brewster. Here the railroad first appeared, and then the city (sic) was established. As the youngest village in Stark County, Brewster owes its very existence to the Wheeling..." (NKP Magazine: p.5). Shop and engine servicing facilities, a depot/office/headquarters building, and other support facilities were constructed, and "in the heyday of its oper- ations the Brewster facilities provided a drawing card for both employees and the business community to serve them." (Ibid.:3). A growing need for railroader housing led to the construction of the Wandle House in 1916. The Wandle House, first known as the Brewster RR YMCA,was built as a 62 room dormitory.

It was one of only a few known railroad YMCA's in Ohio built specifically for housing employees and officials of a major transfer point as part of the overall development anâ expansion of a complete railroad complex and town. Another example is the railroad YMCA built in 1922 by the New York Central Railroad in Bellefontaine, Ohio. While operated by the W& LERR (1916-1949), the Wandle House was the center of entertainment and social activities in Brewster. It included, in addition to the sleeping rooms, a large restaurant, meeting rooms, a movie theater, and, later on, several bowling alleys in the basement; most parts of the building were open to the public.

The Wandle House was damaged by fire in the early 1920s and was then brick-veneered, with only the front porch retaining its original stucco, but the building today still presents essentially the same appearance and feeling that it has throughout most of its history. In 1949 the W& L E RR was taken over by the Nickel Plate RR, which continued operation of the Wandle House. The NKP RR was in turn absorbed by the Norfolk & Western RR in 1964, Maintenance declined (bowling alley closed in 1958) and the building was closed in 1975 and donated to the present owners in 1976. Limited restoration and stabilization is underway, and the Wandle House, having already served the employees of three railroads, again is used for union and public meetings and as a center of community activity.

Brewster is still primarily a railroad town, and the Wandle House stands as a significant link to the interrelated history and development of both the town and the railroads. In addition to the Wandle House, the depot/office/headquarters building for the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad is still standing.i 9.

The rest of the file

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

Major Bibliographical References Corns, John B. 1976 "Brewster, Ohio: Railroad Town, USA!" Nickel Plate Road Magazine Vol. 10(3). Nickel Plate Road Historical and Technical Society. Immler, Mary 1975 "Brewster's Famous Wandel House Closes" The Massillon Independent (Sept.) Rehor, John A. 1967 The Nickel Plate Story, pp. 333-355. Kalmbach Publishing Co. Milwaukee. Anonym. May 17, 1916 "Will begin work soon on Rail YMCA... ." Canton Evening Repository. 10. Geographical Data less than one Acreage of nominated property Quadrangle name _ Navarre Quadrangle scale 1:24000 UT M References ALuz Lal 419/41610 _415/016|81410 Zone Easting Northing C E D LILILIL Northing LILu F ILIILN HLJ bbd LiLu Verbal boundary description and justification Parcel # 70-80012 in the city of Brewster.

List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state N/A code county code state code county code 11. Form Prepared By name/title Harold Horn, Vice-President; Evelyn Taylor, Loretta Ballora, Jeff Brown organization Brewster Sugar Creek Twp Historical Soc. date July 1984 street & number 45 South Wabash telephone 216-767-3882 Harold Horn city or town Brewster state 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: _ national -- state local As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89 665), 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 W title SHPO For NPS use only I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register Xelaußyer Entered in Nationa] Reolster Keeper of the National Register date Jo 11-85 date 3-7-85 Attest: Chief of Registration date U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1983 0 - 419-311 WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Brewster Railroad YMCA/Wandle House Stark County OHIO resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: sample -request FEB 6 1985 Working No. Fed. Reg. Date: 2.4.

86 Date Due: _ 3/7/83 3/23/85 Action: -ACCEPT _ 3-7-85 Yaterod in tae Metional Register _RETURN _REJECT_ Federal Agency: _ appeal L NR decision Recom./Criteria Reviewer Discipline - Date see continuation sheet Nomination returned for: _technical corrections cited below substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Ciassification Category Ownership Public Acquisition 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Has this property been determined eligible? yes - no 7. Description Condition excellent good fair deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one - unaltered I altered Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection Status Accessible Present Use Check one - original site moved date 8.

Significance Period Areas of Significance-Check and justify below Specific dates Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) Builder/Architect summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria iustification of areas checked relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance justification of exception other DBLC 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property Quadrangle name UTM References Verbal boundary description and justification 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: national state local State Historic Preservation Officer signature date title 13. Other Maps Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Signed _ Date .

Phone: _ Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet Brewster Railroad YMCA 45 S. Wabash Avenue Brewster, Stark Co., Ohio August-Sept. 1983 location of Negs: Brewster Historical Society view looking southwest was lohing aonthuat Brewster Railroad YMCA 45 S. Wabash Avenue Brewster, Stark Co., Ohio August-Sept. 1983 location of Negs: Brewster Historical Society view looking south, showing north wing prew lading.n.tf, alriing anth wing Brewster Railroad YMCA 45 S. Wabash Ave. Brewster, Stark Co., Ohio August-Sept. 1983 location of Negs: Brewster Historical Society view looking north, showing south wing wiw ladking anith, alauing sith wing Brewster Railroad YMCA 45 S. Wabash Avenue Brewster, Stark Co., Ohio August-Sept. 1983 location of Negs: Brewster Historical Society front view looking west faotinan lolegunt Brewster Railroad YMCA 45 S.

Wabash Avenue Brewster, Stark Co., Ohio August-Sept. 1983 location of Negs: Brewster Hist. Society view looking west-northwest maw letig wat- mortennt SEP 25 1984 CHARLES "RED" ASH STATE HOUSE COLUMBUS, OHIO 43215 49th House District (part) Stark County (216) 484-2707 - Home (614) 466-8144 - Office Columbus 43215 September 19, 1984 COMMITTEES: Education Colleges and Universities Subcommittee Econderal Aefitisand Health and Retirement Ways and Means Select Civi/ Sericon Employment ublic Improvements Inspectior Committe W. Ray Luce Ohio Historical Society 1982 Velma Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43221 Dear Mr. Luce: It is my understanding the Wandle House in Brewster, Ohio is under consideration to be placed on the National Register for Historic Places.

The Wandle House has been treasured by the citizens of Brewster for many years and any consideration you could favorably give to this being placed on the National Register would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much for your kind consideration to this request. Sincerely, Chailes Reddok Charles "Red" Ash State Representative 49th House District CRA: b cc: Robert Louchring, Mayor Brewster, Ohio Mr. & Mrs. Robert Griffith