{"nrhp_refnum":"87000382","name":"Modern Tool Company","other_names":["People's Market House"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"NE jct. of State and Fourth Sts.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Erie","county":"Erie County","state":"PA","lat":42.13233164300004,"lon":-80.08929950399994,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1987-03-06","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Industry","Commerce"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A brick commercial and industrial complex occupying about 60% of a city block in downtown Erie, Pennsylvania, bounded by 3rd, 4th, State and French Streets. It combines the People's Market House, built in 1895, with later industrial additions that housed the Modern Tool Company.","why_significant":"The nomination argues the building is Erie's sole surviving public market house and the surviving plant of Erie's largest tool-and-die manufacturer in the early 20th century. It says the complex survives with a high degree of integrity, and it is significant for its commercial and industrial roles.","narrative":"Brick-built and occupying about 60% of a downtown Erie block, the complex began as the People's Market House, designed by local architect H. R. Dunning and opened in October 1895 after a brief construction period. The market operated until 1902, when it was leased to the Modern Tool Company, a tool-and-die maker organized in 1898. The firm expanded the building through additions between 1916 and 1928, including the State Street facade and a north block with steel industrial sash and a central skylight. Modern Tool is regarded as Erie's largest tool-and-die plant of the early 20th century, and the building is the only surviving public market in the city. Its survival in nearly its period form, and its link to the city's industrial growth, account for its listing. A 1985-86 rehabilitation converted the interior to apartments and retail space while retaining the brick walls, roof structures and steel columns.","period_of_significance":"1895-1928","architect_builder":"H. R. Dunning (architect)","architectural_style":null,"criteria":["A","C"],"status_note":"Rehabilitated in 1985-86 for apartments, offices and market/retail space.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-haiku-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.1-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 17:11:34.605716-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_PA/87000382.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/87000382/a155c791f8-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/87000382/a155c791f8-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Pubdog","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Modern_Tool_Company_Erie_PA_Apr_13.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Pubdog</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Modern_Tool_Company_Erie_PA_Apr_13.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71995545","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Tool_Company","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6888905"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/pennsylvania/erie-county/modern-tool-company-87000382/"}