Description of the Bucyrus Historical District

Main Local National Register - Downtown Historic - Bucyrus Mausoleum - D. Picking & Co. - T&OC

Scroggs House - Chesney House - Blair House - Harris House - Beer House - McGraw House

Description of Bucyrus Historic District
(As described in Nomination Form for National Register)

The non-contributing buildings and intrusions in the Bucyrus Commercial Historic District are comprised of newer construction and buildings suffering from extensive alterations. Overall these non-contributing buildings are isolated examples scattered throughout the district. However two major concentrations of non-contributing buildings do exist along the east side of S. Sandusky and the southern and western sides of Washington Square. Buildings 2,3,4,5 located along S. Sandusky were built in the early 1960's after a major fire destroyed practically the entire block. These buildings are one or two story buildings built of brick with plate glass storefronts. The most unfortunate alterations to the historic district have occurred along Washington Square. The southern edge of the square displays the Society National Bank which is a nineteenth century building which has had its third floor removed and has been "mansarded"and reclad with a stucco-like facing. Across Sandusky St. to the east is a parking lot. The western edge of Washington Square shows a gas station and an extensively altered building. The northern and eastern sides of Washington Square and the landscaping islands in the center of the square still retain integrity of setting, design, materials, materials, workmanship, feeling and association to convey its turn-of-the-century significance of the center of the district.

Although Buildings #16, 23, and 73 are less than fifty years old, they contribute to the historic district through their design, materials, location, and setting. Building #23 was originally a three story brick Italianate style house which in 1941 was damaged by fire. At that time John Q. Shunk, local industrialist and philanthropist donated $22,000 towards renovating the existing structure and adding the front portion for use as the YMCA.

Boundry justification: The boundaries were selected to encompass the most architecturally and historically cohesive area of downtown Bucyrus. The commercial district rings the public square with the strongest concentrations of buildings being located two blocks north and south of Washington Square along Sandusky Avenue and two blocks east of the square along Mansfield Street. The commercial area extends roughly about one block beyond the north, south and east district boundaries but is characterized by new construction of a different scale and a greater number of parking lots and vacant lots. (photographs 18, 21, 37, 38, 66), The areas to the east and west of the district along Walnut and Poplar Streets is more predominately residential in nature.

Additional Comments on Description January 2002

Contributing buidings that are no longer standing in the Historic District are building #6, 7, 8, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, and 49. The most significant demolision of property occured to the northeast Washington Square area (Quinby block) to include N. Sandusky Ave. buildings #29, 30, 31, 33, and Washington Square building #28. Fire destroyed buildings 8, 34, 49. The next most significant area of change included building #6, 7, and 8 and the subsequent building of a modern structure with no integrity of setting. Modern construction is also evident in the replacement of building #49 and northeast Washington Square.

Numerous contributing building storefronts have been altered with new modern siding such as building #74, #56, #44, #43, # 42, #41, and #24 most notably. Additional changes to buildings has been the addition of modern awnings from the facade with no sense of consistancy.

Changes to the Historical District over the past two decades has not retained the integrity of setting, design, materials, workmanship, feeling or association to convey its turn-of-the-century significance as an historic district. Many buildings that in 1985 were classified as contributing buildings would very certainly not be contributing in 2002

Significance of Historic District
(Statement from Nomination Form for National Register)

The Bucyrus Commercial Historic District is significant for both architectural and historical reasons. This area has been the center of government and commerce in Crawford County since Bucyrus was made the county seat in 1834. The district displays significant examples of nineteenth and twentieth century architecture which reflects the development and growth of the commercial and civic center of this north central Ohio community. Earliest examples from the 1830's-1850's include simple vernacular frame and later brick buildings constructed to supply the needs of the newly founded town and the surrounding agricultural area. In the late nineteenth century more elaborate Gothic Revival and Italianate style commercial blocks reflected the growing prosperity of Bucyrus as a commercial and manufacturing center in Crawford County. Turn-of-the-century classical Revival style governmental and civic buildings reflect the increasing importance of Bucyrus as the Crawford County seat and the increased pride of its citizenry for public amenities.

The area along the banks of the Sandusky River located in the center of Crawford County was first settled by a group of pioneers from Pennsylvania led by Samuel Norton. In 1820 Colonel William Kilbourne was commissioned by the State of Ohio to do a preliminary survey for a road from Franklinton (Columbus) to Lake Erie. At the time a road extended from Franklinton through Delaware as far north as Norton in Delaware County near the Greenville Treaty line. Kilbourne seeing the advantages of this location collaborated with Norton to lay out the town of Bucyrus along the future road. In 1821 the first lots were platted in what is now the center of town. The plat contained 176 lots with lots 90-92 set aside for a courthouse and lot 88 for a jail.

In 1834 Bucyrus became the county seat of Crawford County. The first courthouse was built in 1832 and was modeled after the Statehouse in Columbus. This structure was replaced in 1854 by a brick building topped by oak cupola painted white which housed the town clock and a 1500 lb. cast iron bell. O.S. Kinney was the architect and Ault and Miller of Mt. Gilead were the builders. The present appearance of the courthouse (#27) is the result of extensive remodeling undertaken in 1908. Harian F. Jones, a Mansfield architect was appointed to do the renovation. A.E. Hancock, also from Mansfield was appointed general contractor. During the renovation the Corinthian and lonic wooden columns supporting the portico and flanking the front entrance were replaced by stone columns. The bell/clock tower was redisigned and the life size statue of Col. Crawford was placed in its niche in the front of the building. Aside from the courthouse other civic buildings are included in the district. The county jail and sheriff's residence (#26) is located directly north of the courthouse. The present brick with stone trim Queen Ann style building was built in 1881-1882 by Peter Faeth and was the fourth jail facility built in Crawford County. Bucyurs' city government is represented by the 1905 Bucyrus Fire Department (#22) on E. Mansfield St. The Beaux Arts style Public Library (#25) was constructed in 1906 with the help of a $15,000 grant from the Andrew Caregie Foundation. In total these four buildings are impressive examples of late nineteenth and early twentieth century civic architecture.

In addition to its governmental role, the Bucyrus Commercial Historic District derives its primary significance from its role as the center for commercial activity in Crawford County from c. 1840's to 1870's. Because of its transportation advantages and central location in fertile Crawford County, Bucyrus developed as a manufacturing and trade center for the surrounding agricultural area.

In 1826 the Ohio legislature passed an act incorporating the Columbus and Sandusky Turnpike Company. Two of the incorporators were Judge E.B. Merriman and Zalmon Rowse of Bucyrus. The road was to be a "good, secure and substantial road of stone, gravel, timber or other materials". Many of the early settlers of Bucyrus agreed to take stock in the road. The meeting for the organization of the company was held in Bucyrus and Col. Kilbourne was appointed surveyer. The completion of the road through Bucyrus (Sandusky Ave., U.S. Rt. 4) proved a boon to the town's growth and economy with "as many as seventy five wagons loaded with grain passing through Bucyrus a day."

Early industries in Bucyrus processed goods mostly for local consumption. These included a tannery, flour mill, blacksmith shops, saw mill and wagon shop.

With the arrival of the railroad into Bucyrus in 1853, the town experienced an increase in population and in commercial and manufacturing activities. The first line through Bucyrus was the Ohio and Indiana Railroad. By 1915 Bucyrus was located on the Pennsylvania main line, Pittsburgh to Chicago; Pennsylvania short line, Sandusky to Columbus; the Toledo & Ohio Central, Toledo to Columbus; and the Cleveland Southwestern Electric Railway.

In 1859 the population numbered 3600 and Bucyrus was touted as "the most flourishing town in the state." This growth and development was manifested in the number of commercial buildings under construction. Between 1850 and 1879 eleven buildings were completed in downtown Bucyrus. The largest of these structures was the Quinby Block (#28) built between 1858-1859, the first example of the commercial block in Bucyrus. Located on the northeast corner of Washington Square, the Quinby Block is a three story brick building measuring sixty feet by one hundred fifty feet. The five eastern rooms were completed in 1858, the western rooms in 1859. At the time of its completion, the Quinby Block was "one of the largest and finest business blocks in northern Ohio." George Quinby, the financier for the building, was a prominent businessman in Bucyrus, active in numerous other enterprises.

The late nineteenth and early twentieth century saw Bucyrus at its peak as a center for manufacturing and transportation. During this period Bucyrus hosted numerous leading industries, known on a regional and national scale. Included amoung these industries were the American Clay Machinery Co., the world's largest builders of machinery for making clay products; the Ohio Locomotive Crane Co.; the C. Roehr Co., makers of interior trim and general mill work; the D. Picking Co., making copper kettles; the Shunk Plow Co., and the Toledo & Ohio Central Railways shops, doing every class of railway shop work including new and repair work for the entire system.

In addition to the T & OC railroad shops Bucyrus was terminus for trains running north and south. In the 1890's another mode of transportation was introduced to Bucyrus, the Inter-Urban electric streetcars. in 1899, the first inter-urbans ran twelve miles southeast of Bucyrus to Galion stopping at Seccahum Park, a popular turn-of-the-century amusement park located between the two towns. By 1908 Bucyrus had joined the Columbus-Cleveland line. The electric street cars ran through the center of town, switching tracks on Washington Square. The increase in automobile travel put an end to the inter-urban system. Its popularity waned in the 1920's and the system was discontinued in the 1930's.

The loss of the T &OC railroad shops during the 1930's was a devastating blow to Bucyrus during the Depression. However the greater use of highway transportation helped see Bucyrus through the Depression and World War II years as the town became a leading manufacturing center for highway related industries most notably, road roller and highway construction machinery. The routing of a major U.S. highway, Route 30 (The Lincoln Highway) through Bucyrus in the 1930's insured the town's importance as a transportation center for shipping goods by truck.

Bucyrus' importance as a transportation and manufacturing center greatly influenced the town's commercial development during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The town's prosperity was reflected in the range of substantial commercial buildings that were constructed, often by private businessmen. Examples include the Bucyrus City Bank (#54), begun in 1881 as Monnett & Co. Bankers; Mader Block (#55) built in 1881 for J.G. Mader, housing various commercial enterprises, third floor was Mader's home until 1935; 119 N. Sandusky Ave. (#51) cast iron front commercial building built c. 1891 by Louis Mollenkopf and Frank Walter; Union Block (#49), built by Frank Walter in 1890's Walter operated a hardware store followed by his son (noted also for large saw-shaped sign originally advertising "hardware" and the Keel Block (#37) a commercial building built in 1912 by Claude Keel.

In addition to the large commercial structures which characterize the historic district, downtown Bucyrus also contains a range of medium-sized and small retail buildings which compliment the larger structures by adding variety in scale and level of detail. These are mostly simple one and two-story frame, gable roofed stores and brick buildings with modest brick corbelling along the cornice. Examples of the early vernacular commercial buildings include 115-116 Washington Square (#17) a wood frame building built in 1847 and 117 S. Sandusky Ave. (#63) which displays the brick corbelled cornice characteristic of early Bucyrus commercial buildings.

The architectural character of Bucyrus Commercial Historic District is representative of a small sized commercial center of 19th-20th centuries. The architectural styles represented in the district present an image of growth over time, with common elements of scale and ornamentation and repetition of materials and details. They also reflect a high degree of wealth and pride in the community over the course of Bucyrus' development.

The Italianate style is the predominant commercial style in the district, particularly in such outstanding examples as 215-217 (#71), 116 S. Sandusky (#15) and 132 S. Sandusky (#10). An important example of Victorian Gothic is the County Jail and Sheriff's Residence (#26) its detailing and style is commonly seen throughout the state in late nineteenth century county jail facilities.

An outstanding representation of early twentieth century architecture is shown in the Beaux Arts style Crawford County Courthouse (#27) renovation and the Public Library (#25). The district also displays good examples of the functional brick one or two story commercial buildings which emerged during the first quarter of the twentieth century. 225 N. Sandusky Ave. (#45) and 119 W. Mansfield (#59) both feature parapet entablatures and decorative brickwork, the former in a diamond shaped pattern, the latter in a basketweave pattern. 247 E. Mansfield (#24) is an automobile dealership shich features the low, horizontal massing and brick with geometrical terra cotta trim characteristic of this period of commercial construciton. Although 126 S. Sandusky (#12) is three stories it still desplays the use of terra cotta trim, capping the parapet, forming a cornice, outlining the windows and inset within the decorative brick facade. Lastly the district contains a display of a fine example of Art Deco corporate architecture associated with the retail clothing store J.C. Penny Company (#68). The building built in 1930-31 displays modest Art Deco through its brick piers and recessed brick panels with decorative terra cotta panels. The building design has been identified in other small to medium sized cities.

Overall, the Bucyrus Commercial Historic District displays a fine collection of architecture which reflects the community's development during the mid to late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

News / Contact Us / Links / Site Map / Donation

700 East Rensselaer Street Bucyrus, Ohio 44820