Nomination for Erie Terminal Building--Commerce Plaza Building

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Ohio Historic Preservation Office 1985 Velma Avenue Columbus. Ohio 43211 < SINCE I885 4. Present Name(s) 5. Other Name(s) 3. Location of Negatives Erie Terminal Building, Commerce Plaza Building YRF 16. Thematic Category 28. No. of Stories 6. Specific Location Basement? Yes O 112 W. Commerce St. 17. Date(s) or Period 30. Foundation Material 18. Style or Design City or Town If Rural, Township & Vicinity 31. Wall Construction 19. Architect or Engineer 8. Site Plan with North Arrow 32. Roof Type & Material 20. Contractor or Builder flat/built up 33. No. of Bays Erie Terminal 34. Wall Treatment 22. Present Use 23. Ownership Changes Private X 24. Owner's Name & Address, if known 37. Condition 9. U.T.M. Reference 25. Open to Preservation Structure O Building A Object O 26. Local Contact Person or Organization By What? 11. On National NO X 27. Other Surveys in Which Included 13. Part of Estab.

Yes O Visible from Hist. Dist.? 41. Distance from and approx. 8' 42. Further Description of Important Features (Continue on reverse if necessary) style that reflects its intended use. Interest is added at the 6th floor by limestone banding and shields of limestone at two-window intervals, and by a limestone cornice with modillions at the build- which also run vertically from the top of the street level to the Youngstown's important railroad history, the Erie Terminal was built in 1922 as an un- Paul Boucherle, the terminal buidling was a joint project of the Erie Railroad and George N. Hamory, its financial backer and developer. Although a larger passenger terminal was 44. Description of Environment and Outbulldings 45. Sources of Information 46. Prepared by Judy Williams 47. Organization Mangie, Evelyn, National Register Nomination, 4/27/85 B.D. Rickey & Co. 48. Date 49.

Revision Date(s) 149 1922 614/466-1500 Youngstown concrete Register? Side Underway? County Easting Front commercial/vacant Eligible? Exterior Endangered? Mahoning SOCIETY District Zone HISTORICAL Classical Revival (Explain Frontage on Road Potent'? Interior and Youngstown State University, commercial; trans./communic. Erie Terminal Restoration Assoc. Youngstown city directories Public Road? and offices OHIO HISTORIC INVENTORY Station Place usual combination of terminal and office building.Designed by prominent local architect A six story office building built in a Classical Revival design, Northing 4549900 19/85 LOVER) 17.529300 1. No. Addition O in #42) Moved O Metropolitan Tower, Youngstown Site O No O the Erie Terminal Building features simple lines and a functional steel frame 21. Original Use, if apparent Altered # ing's roofline.

Upper story windows are framed with header bricks Good Sanborn Insurance Maps buff-colored brick Youngstown Revitalization Found Erie Terminal Building, Downtown Youngstown MRA 50. House Type No. 53. Farmstead Plan 51. Historic Outbuildings and Dependencies Corn Crib or Shed C Smoke House, O Privy D Silo O Carriage House O Summer Kitchen O or Ice House 52. Archaeological Site on Property? Yes D Basis for Information Owner Collection O 54. Photo Above Ground Earthworks or Mound D Cultural Materials Noted O OAI NO 42. (Cont'd) of the building features the passenger platform, with copper shed roof, which runs the nent commercial and office tenants located there as well. Type Name Other Picture No(s). Barn Type(s) Spring House Code No. Roll No. length of the building. 43 continued: until 1976.

The railroad leased space in the building for its offices and other promi- in 1939 after a 25 foot temporary section was removed; they have been altered. The rear Downtown Youngstown MRA, Mahoning County, Ohio 112 West Commerce Street Architectural Description: The Erie Terminal Building is a rectangular, six-story office building built in a simplified classical design. Interest is added to the buff-colored brick facade at the sixth floor by limestone coursing, limestone shields at two-window intervals, and a limestone cornice with run vertically from the top of the street level to the top of the fifth The ground story of the building features storefronts which were renovated with canopy exists on the Commerce Street facade, with a second entrance set at an angle at the corner of the building. At the rear of the building, the passenger platform with copper shed roof waiting rooms.

ticket window, waiting room and ladies restroom. Railroad regulations associated with Youngstown's important railroad history. The terminal derives its primary significance, however, from its development as a and George N. Hamory, its financial backer and developer. The importance of the railroad to Youngstown's growth is illustrated by the years after Erie Terminal as a major passenger station and office tower. Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

: Erie Terminal The Erie Terminal Building meets National Register criterion C.Completed building of this size.

Railroad's passenger station for over 50 years.Although a larger Erie Terminal is an important representation of this early 2oth century in 1922,the building is significant as one of the few remaining structures technique of combining transportation and private office uses in one Chicago where four major trunk lines met.This building served as the Erie The interior of the first floor of the Terminal retains its tile floor, evidence of this removal.Storefronts have been altered.A central entry required the builders to install three elevators, more than usual for a usage is identical to Cleveland's landmark Terminal Tower, completed eight fact that in 1925, Youngstown was the only major city between New York and modillions.Upper story windows are framed with header bricks which also combined passenger station and private office building.This combined is spacious and runs the entire length of the building.Concrete stairs in 1939 after a 25-foot temporary section was removed.There is no visible provide access to the tracks which were removed in 1985.The original Erie Terminal, Downtown Youngstown MRA, Mahoning County, Ohio space in the building as well for its offices.

Many of the city's prominent commercial and office tenants resided there as well. Architecturally, the Terminal building stands as a major downtown landmark. It was designed by prominent local architect Paul Boucherle as one of his important commissions were Jones Hall at Youngstown State University and an Considered a civic minded architectural planner by his peers, Boucherele interest in clean building lines and functional styles which he advocated in his other work as well. Acreage: Less than one. the 1930s.The Terminal Building is a good example of the architect's early addition to McKim, Mead and White's Butler Institute of American Art. Nominated poperty is outlined in item # 10 of the att-ched NR form. structure remained a passenger station until 1976. The railroad leased NPS Form 10-900-a United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Mahoning County, OH 2.

Youngstown Vindicator 3. Erie Terminal Building-- 4. Federal Post Office-- 7. Kress Building 10. Ohio One--Ohio Edison Commerce Plaza Building Building Attest Name Date/Signature Keeper National Register of Historic Places Entered in the 6. Jay's Lunch 9. McKelvey--Higbee Company dnr-11 5. Helen Chapel Inventory-Nomination Form Continuation sheet State Page Item number 8. McCrory Building Multiple Resource Area Downtown Youngstown MRA Thematic Group Nomination/Type of Review National Register City Hall Annex Substantive Hariew (3-82) OMB NO. Expires 10-31-87 1. Masonic Temple DOE/OWNER OBJECTIONKeeper National Regiet ASO Form - 1 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR R" June 198 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Erie Terminal Building -Commerce Plaza Building (Downtown Youngstown MRA) Fed. Reg. Date: Date Due: .

nomination by person or local government - owner objection Federal Agency: _ - appeal -sample -request LNR decision Reviewer's comments: . see continuation sheet Nomination returned for: _technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification Present Use Public Acquisition 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys 7. Description Check one - excellent -unaltered - original site -good J ruins - moved J summary paragraph - boundary selection resubmission deteriorated dates unexposed Category Condition REJECT Reviewer completeness Recom./Criteria RETURN Ownership clarity Mahoning County alterations/integrity Discipline Substantive Review: Working No. Has this property been determined eligible? Accessible 4.

Owner of Property Describe the present and original (if known)physical appearance yes fair Action- Status ACCEPT7-23-6 National Regiel 8. Significance Areas of Significance-Check and justify below Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) - summary paragraph - completeness J applicable criteria justification of areas checked J relating significance to the resource relationship of integrity to significance J justification of exception J other 9.

The rest of the file

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

Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property 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: State Historic Preservation Officer signature Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to _ GPO 918-450 Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet clarity context Builder/Architect Period Date Signed title state local Maps Photographs Phone: Specific dates national Quadrangle name Youngstown, Mahoning County, Ohio J. Williams photo, 10/85 Erie Terminal 112 West Commerce Street View looking east at main facade Downtown Youngstown MRA Neg. @ 391 Library Park South, Cols. 112 W. Commerce Street Youngstown, Mahoning County, Ohio Facade and Phelps St.

side showing entablature Commerce St. hanging canopy, and oblique ERIE TERMINAL BUILDING Commerce/Phelps Streets entrance. Camera faces northwest. Location of negatives: Youngstown State Univ. 112 W. Commerce Street Youngstown, Mahoning County, Ohio Location of negatives: Youngstown State U. Facade and west end. Note that detail does Camera faces northeast. ERIE TERMINAL BUILDING not extend to west end. Photographer: Evelyn Mangie, April 1985 112 W. Commerce Street Youngstown, Mahoning County, Ohio Rear showing copper canopy, rear platform, and concrete steps. Location of negatives: Youngstown State Univ. Camera faces southwest. ERIE TERMINAL BUILDING Photographer: Evelyn Mangie, April 1985 112 W. Commerce Street Youngstown, Mahoning County, Ohio Location of negatives: Youngstown State Univ. ERIE TERMINAL BUILDING Detail of limestone shield and band running framing windows.

Camera faces west. under sixth floor windows; also header bricks running horizontally and vertically, Photographer: Evelyn Mangie, April 1985 112 W. Commerce Street Youngstown, Mahoning County, Ohio ERIE TERMINAL BUILDING Camera faces west. Detail of cornice including shield at top of limestone band over sixth floor windows. Photographer: Evelyn Magnie, April 1985 Location of Negatives: Youngstown State Univ 64000618 Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Please refer to the map in the NPS Form 10.900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp.

10-31-84 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service For NPS use only See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms Type all entries - complete applicable sections and or common Binama Building (1960's), Commerce Plaza Building (1976) not for publication city, town - vicinity of _ state Present Use - unoccupied X building(s) X private X commercial - park Structure - work in progress - private residence . religious in process - yes: unrestricted - industrial _ transportation _ other: Paul Ricciuti Erie Terminal Restoration Associates street & number Metropolitan Tower Building street & number 120 Market Street has this property been determined eligible? county - _ local depository for survey records 2. Location both yes code government 6. Representation in Existing Surveys None Inventory-Nomination Form object Accessible museum site date 5.

Location of Legal Description Youngstown educational Category Ownership National Register of Historic Places agriculture title entertainment district historic public 4. Owner of Property Status federal Ohio 3. Classification scientific county Mahoning Public Acquisition date entered (Erie) Terminal Building (3-82) military being considered 1. Name 7. Description X good X altered - moved date construction faced with buff brick which is laid in the stretcher or running bond fashion. Build in a simplified classic design, interest is added with header bricks which frame the windows and run vertically from the top of the street level to the top of the fifth street level from the remainder of the building. At the top of the fifth floor, a brick band is topped with a limestone fascia. There is another limestone band over the top of the sixth floor windows.

Shields of limestone set at intervals of every two windows appear to support the fascia as well as top the upper band so that the sixth floor windows form the frieze. A limestone cornice consisting Street side and across the Commerce Street facade. The west end and the back of the architect expected the west side to be hidden by the planned railroad station which was The street level on Commerce Street was renovated in 1939 after the 25 foot temporary section was removed, yet there is no visible evidence of the removal. There is a center except for the south east corner at Phelps and Commerce Streets. This is an entrance which known whether it had a serpentine facing.) The rear platform that was used by the train passengers is spacious and runs along original large wooden double doors topped with transom windows provide access to the passenger waiting rooms.

The interior of the first level has the original tile floor, ticket window, waiting The new owners have announced plans for the restoration of the Terminal Building. floor will be restored to the original passenger terminal to be used as a lounge.Although the railroad tracks have been removed by the city, the new owners will restore the Condition working order. unexposed excellent deteriorated fair of bed mold, soffit, cornice cap, and cap mold is seemingly held up by brackets of the unaltered (which were removed in March of 1985) and a copper shed roof over the platform. The Check one The Erie Terminal Building isa rectangular six-story office building of steel never built.

east end of the building were the only sides that would be open to public view.The The second through sixth floors will be made into high quality apartments and the main Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance of the street floor windows is limestone which frames a brick panel.This delineates the _ruins X__ original site floor, forming spandrels. Between the bottoms of the second floor windows and the tops Commerce corner entrance on the temporary 25 foot section was also angled but it is not the entire length of the structure. There are concrete stairs leading down to the tracks elevators, more than usual for a building of this size. These will be returned to building are without extra decoration. The reason for this was that the facade and the platform and landscape the track area into a spacious rear lawn. entrance here with a hanging canopy.

The same buff brick is used to face the street level same material.This completes the entablature which only runs from the rear of the Phelps is angled obliquely and covered with a dark serpentine facing.(The original Phelps/ Areas of Significance - Check and justify below - prehistoric - archeology-historic - conservation - agriculture - economics -education . military .

social/ - 1700-1799 - engineering - exploration/settlement - philosophy X 1900- - industry - transportation _ invention other (specify) The Erie Terminal Building is significant because it was conceived by Paul Boucherle and George Hamory, two prominent Youngstown businessmen, both European immigrants, who significant because it is a unique example of early adaptive reuse that helped Youngstown for this uniformity, as well a high quality workmanship, his political career was somewhat Tocal architect, engineer, and civic planner ended with his death in 1966. Born in Hungary in1869, he came to the United States at fourteen and worked at unloading had become the owner of three international banks and had also developed a big business coming into the Mahoning Valley in the early decades of the twentieth century.

He was also involved in the development of an agricultural farm in Canada for the purpose of 8. Significance commerce 1600-1699 1800-1899 theater 1500-1599 communications 1400-1499 architecture politics/government Period literature law humanitarian George M. Hamory, financial backer of the Terminal Building, was equally prominent. Railroad, and the Cleveland-New Castle Railway Company were formed. Tracks were laid seven public schools, the Warren Post Office, the Poland Fire Station, several churches, some dissent, but Youngstown can be grateful for his efforts, as many poor quality sculpture adjust to changing times.

Lastly, the building is significant for its association with rail Louis Boucherle's architectural company and was immediately commissioned to design the Specific dates 1921 furniture for the Mahoning County Court House, a building that his father had designed.In when many small companies such as the Mahoning Valley Western, the Youngstown and Ravenna Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) aiding European immigrants in the farming methods of their new country.For these reasons, progressive planner by his peers and was appointed city building inspector and zoning and came to this country at age six.He received his early education in Youngstown,.then he was highly regarded in the community.

1920,Paul opened his own architectural firm and designed many buildings in the _music -art - archeology-prehistoric X community planning both public and private, including the Administration Building at Youngstown State University and these ideas are reflected in his works. The Terminal Building is a fine example of Because of his insistance Builder/Architect Paul Boucherle boats in New York City before he landed a job as a clerk in a bank. In only twelve years, young Hamory had worked his way up to become the bank manager.Several years later, he representing steamship agencies and passenger routes.

His fluency in six European languages along old trails; the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie tracks were constructed on the bed of science Railroads came to Youngstown in the westward expansion era of the mid 19th century, landscape architecture (Jones Hall) and an early addition to the Butler Institute of American Art.(Both of these graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Architecture.He joined his father, stormy. His objections to contractors who wished to stray from the Boucherle plan caused engineer in 1935.His goal was the establishment of uniform building 1ines for Youngstown _ state - local As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89 according to the criteriaand procedures set forthby the National Park Service.

State Historic Preservation Officer signature I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register organization code Poland Youngstown date county Northing 11. Form Prepared By Attest: name/title Quadrangle scale 1:24000 Zone national 10. Geographical Data Quadrangle name 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries Verbal boundary description and justification 9. Major Bibliographical References The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: Keeper of the National Register date 4/27/85 Chief of Registration The Youngstown Telegram, 12/31/26, 4/28/21, 4/ 26/ 21. street & number 46 Poland Manor 665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated city or town Aley,Howard C.A Heritage to Share.

Bicentennial Comm.of Ygtn.& Mah.Co.,OH,1975. UTM References Easting For Nps use only Youngstown City Directory, Vol. 32 (1923). The Youngstown Vindicator, 4/26/21, 5/15/21, 9/14/21, 4/4/24, 10/13/25, 12/20/35, 10/19/39,5/14 Less then one Nominated property consists of Lot # 360. telephone Evelyn Mangie 216- 757-1096 Acreage of nominatedproperty NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Erie Terminal Building, Downtown Youngstown MRA Item number. 8 the old Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal, and the Pennsylvania Railroad followed the old Mahoning Trail that had been used by Amerindians for hundreds of years.

The Youngstown/ buildings remain standing today: the B & 0 station, a large beautifully ornate building Station, about a mile north of the downtown area has been remodeled and now serves as a and this dynamism kept the city fathers busy planning improvements for the future, such which was resolved by requiring the railroad to proceed with what was called the "into realize their plans for the elaborate new station, yet it was obvious that the tiny one office building to be constructed on the opposite corner of the existing depot and just basement and ground floor of Hamory's new office building could be leased temporily by the railroad for its passenger station until its own plans could be completed at which Hamory devised a plan to build the first floor of the Terminal Building twenty-five feet be removed without adversely affecting the rest of the building, yet utilizing this space Building's first floor was removed exactly as planned.

district. abeyance. (3-82) National Register of Historic Places Youngstown grew rapidly even during the war because of its strategic steel mills announced plans to build an elaborate $5,000,000 complex of passenger station and Inventory-Nomination Form built directly by the railroad for exclusive railroad use, the only one that did not look United States.

By this time, the small, independent railroad companies had been bought the city became embroiled in a lawsuit over the elimination of the grade crossings, Page tunnels just west of this property, but the advent of World War I put these plans in 1939 when Commerce Street was widened and the twenty-five foot section of the Terminal and its tracks ran directly through the downtown these tracks crossed like a traditional railroad terminal, and the only one within the downtown central business date entered wider than the rest of the structure so that this temporary wing to the first floor could The history of the building demonstrates the far-sighted planning involved in its constructed in 1922 on the lot situated at the corner of Phelps and Commerce Streets in Pittsburgh/Cleveland industrial district grew rapidly; a growth made possible by the The Terminal Building, as it became known, is a six story office building downtown Youngstown.

This property was jointly owned by the city and the Erie Railroad wall along the hill, and erect bridges over the tracks which crossed Belmont, Fifth, and Hamory seized the opportunity and presented his plan for the erection of a six story widening of this street. Not wishing to waste any valuable street-level property, George Continuation sheet Significance which stands abandoned on five acres of land west of the Mahoning River; the Pennsylvania when George Hamory obtained the lease to build in 1921. Earlier, in 1915, Erie had new structures on Commerce Street be set back twenty-seven feet to allow for the future construction. by the larger concerns so that there were just four railroad terminals in Youngstown, the For NPS use only NPS Form 10-900-a No. 1024-0018 Exp.

10-31-84 United States Department of the Interior Inventory - Nomination Form Erie Terminal, Downtown Youngstown MRA Item number Both the city and the railroad approved these far-sighted plans and the contract was awarded to Mr. Hamory in April of 1921 with construction beginning in June. The Terminal Building proved to be a great asset to the city and the offices leased rapidly Erie leased not only the basement and the main half of the building's first floor for Even Paul Boucherle moved his office to this prestigious new address and the Terminal Building showed a $12,000 profit the first year. George Hamory bought the first ticket sold in the new station and the arrival of the first passenger train, the New York to Cleveland Express, was a mementous occasion. The passenger terminal was a bustling downtown center for the next twenty-five years.

terminal was actually used by both the Erie and the P & L.E. trains and tickets for either with barber chairs and facilities of which even the general public made use. Many residents still recall the activity at the station, waiting for the express to goodbyes to sons and husbands off to war as well as joyful reunions with homeward bound as the 1950's, the troop train took R.O.T.C. students from Youngstown University to area, an integral part of the central business district. In the early 1930's freight traffic was becoming a bigger business than passenger service and a new warehouse had been built in 1927, five blocks west of the terminal, over Erie and moved their offices to another building discontinuing passenger service manufacture of prescription lenses for eyeglasses. Nevertheless, this structurally sound, historically significant building occupies Hamory, Mr.

Boucherle, and the city fathers, it is still of great value to the city. pride at its history and those responsible for the versatility which will enable the city to secure its place in the future of northeastern Ohio. Page (3-82) National Register of Historic Places asapplications for storeroom and office space were received by the hundreds.Mr.Hamory's National Park Service its passenger station,but also leased the fifth and sixth floors forrailroad offices. train came in from Cleveland, the Erie crew got off at the station and the P.& L.E.crew Continuation sheet International Bank was the first tenant in the temporary wing of the first floor, and of the Terminal Building was used as a lounge for the changing crews and was equipped terminal never materialized, forcing Erie, in 1934, to renew their lease in the Terminal completely.

At this point the site was given over to use as an office building for a strategic location in the downtown area. Because of the far-sighted efforts of Mr. Attempting to rise from the ashes of recession, Youngstown is beginning to look with took over for the trip to Pittsburgh, the passengers remaining on the train. The basement /Bialding for their offices and their dwindling passenger service. In 1976 Conrail took Significance