{"nrhp_refnum":"80003069","name":"Ohio National Guard Armory","other_names":["Rahe's Meats"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"1437-1439 Western Ave.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Cincinnati","county":"Hamilton County","state":"OH","lat":39.111549317000026,"lon":-84.53231058599994,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1980-03-03","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture"],"significance_levels":["state"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A 3½-story brick former armory at 1437-1439 Western Avenue in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio, built 1886-1889 and designed by Samuel Hannaford and Sons, with a large drill hall attached at the rear.","why_significant":"It was found eligible under Criterion C as a significant work of the noted Cincinnati architectural firm Samuel Hannaford and Sons. It is also locally known for its association with the First Regiment of the Ohio National Guard, which used it as headquarters until 1961.","narrative":"Built between 1886 and 1889 at 1437-1439 Western Avenue in Cincinnati, this brick armory was designed by Samuel Hannaford and Sons as headquarters for the First Regiment of the Ohio National Guard. The regiment, founded in 1875, had outgrown its facilities by 1885, and the Hamilton County Commissioners voted funds for a new building. It cost $115,000 and measured 171½ by 308 feet, with a main hall of 137 by 225 feet, and it housed 650 regiment members. Its asymmetrical facade combines Gothic and Romanesque detailing, including a battlemented tower, heavy machicolations, capped turrets and a deep ashlar stone entrance, giving it a fortress-like look. A large drill hall is attached at the rear. The Guard used the building until 1961, after which commercial operations moved in. Surrounding development, including a new expressway, has altered the area, but the building's size remains a strong focal point. It was recognized for its architecture by a noted Cincinnati firm and its local military association.","period_of_significance":"1886-1889","architect_builder":"Samuel Hannaford and Sons (architect); James Griffith & Son (contractor/builder)","architectural_style":"Eclectic (Gothic and Romanesque detailing)","criteria":["C"],"status_note":"Used for Guard purposes until 1961, then occupied by commercial operations; condition listed as fair inside and out, with proposed demolition noted as a threat in the inventory.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:53:12.04718-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_OH/80003069.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/80003069/ac8e245789-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/80003069/ac8e245789-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Robert Keller","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ohio_National_Guard_Armory,_Cincinnati.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Robert Keller</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ohio_National_Guard_Armory,_Cincinnati.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71985354","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_National_Guard_Armory","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7080858"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/ohio/hamilton-county/ohio-national-guard-armory-80003069/"}