Central National Bank Building, 152-156 South High Street, Columbus

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS OHIO,25-COLB,32-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

South High Street, at the northeast corner of South High and East Town Streets, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. The building is scheduled to be demolished in accordance with the redevelopment plan for the city. In order to insure a per- manent record, a documentation of this building has been secured The building is one of the handsomest commercial buildings in downtown Columbus, built in Currently a commercial/office building, it was originally a bank and office building. PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History: 1. Date of erection: 2. Architect: Not known. 3. Original and subsequent owners: The following is a list of past property owners for this building. Source of these records is Franklin County Records' Office. Mary Renkert Hoster Realty Co. Neal L.

Blacker Town Investment, Inc. Huntington National Bank Town Investment, Inc. Prior to February 29, May 14, January 21, January 21, {99 year lease) Huntington National Bank Trustee Grange Mutual Casualty Company Town & High Realty Inc. Pauline Shaffer, Selma Mellman, Jeanette Berman, Bertha Wasserstrom, Louis Ruben, Fay Ruben June 11, City of Columbus, Ohio July 3, May 4, June 29, January 30, CENTRAL NATIONAL BANK BUILDING HABS No. OH-2214 (Page 2) B. Historical Context; Central National Bank occupied the building during the first quarter of century, PART II, ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. General Statement: 1. Architectural character: The building was built in the Classical Revival styling with classical motifs, a rusticated base and a flat roof with a heavy denticulated cornice.

2, Condition of fabric: The exterior is in very good state of repair. In the interior some original features such as corridor floors and stairways are in good condition. The remaining interior has been extensively remodeled and is dilapidated. B. Description of Exterior: 1. Over-all dimensions: The rectangular building measures 27' x 68' and is 80 feet high. The front elevation is seven bays wide and the side elevation is two bays wide. 2. Foundation: Stone. 3. Walls: The first floor has a grey rusticated base made of cementi- tious stone. The middle floors have beige brick facade with beige terra cotta window surrounds and brick pilasters crowned with brackets.

The top floor (sixth floor) is the most elaborate: a wealth motif topped by a band of light glaze tile and a denticulated cornice terminated by a brick parapet. 4. Structural system, framing: Brick bearing walls carry beams which in turn carry concrete slab. 5. Flue: Large flue from furnace in rear of building. 6. Openings: a. Doorways and doors: Street level doors have been replaced with common commercial metal and glass doors. Other street level doors are original - they have a glass panel and wooden panels. b. Windows: Operable, double-hung. 7. Roof: a. Shape, covering: Flat, composition. b. Cornice: j ne CO rnice is denticulated with an overhang of 4 to 5 feet, and above it is a 4-foot brick parapet. CENTRAL NATIONAL BANK BUILDING HABS No. OH-2214 (Page 3) C.

Description of Interior: 1. Floor plans: There is a basement. The front area of ground floor is used as jewelry store. In the rear is an original entrance foyer to the upper floors. All other floors are used as commercial rental spaces which are subdivided by stud partitions, 2. Stairways: Original spiral wood and steel staircase with marble treads. 3. Flooring: Linoleum, tile and carpet in the offices, and marble in the corridors. 4. Wall and ceiling finish: Plaster lathe on studs. Plaster or acoustical tile ceilings. 5. Doors: Flush doors. 6. Decorative features and trim: Original wood paneling, brass railings and a brass mailbox are in the rear area of the building. 7. Mechanical equipment: a. Lighting: Ceiling-mounted fluorescent fixtures. b.

Elevator: Small elevator with panel and glass doors. PART III. SOURCES OF INFORMATION A.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS OHIO,25-COLB,32-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

1. Primary and unpublished sources: Property transfer records. Franklin County Recorders' Office. 2. Secondary and published sources: Sanborn's Fire Insurance Atlas of Columbus , Columbus City Directory , Arc hitecture: Columbus . The Columbus Chapter of the AIA, Prepared by: Steven Michael Elbert Karlsberger and Associates, Inc. Columbus, Ohio PART IV. PROJECT INFORMATION The project was the result of an agreement between the Capitol South Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation, Columbus, Ohio, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Washington, in compliance with Executive Order CENTRAL NATIONAL BANK BUILDING HABS No, OH-2214 {Page 4) as a mitigative effort in the completion of the redevelopment plan. Steven M. Elbert of Karlsberger and Associates, Inc.

Columbus, Ohio, prepared the written documentation and also took the photographs of the structure. Susan McCown, a HABS staff historian in the Washington, O.C. office, edited the documentation in the winter of for transmittal to the Library of Congress. John A. Burns, AIA, was the HABS project co-ordinator.