Orrville Downtown Historic District

Orrville's downtown core, centered on Market and Main Streets in Wayne County, Ohio, forms an L-shaped district of 40 contributing resources and seven noncontributing ones. Most are one- to three-story masonry commercial buildings with shared party walls, dating from the 1860s to the mid-20th century. Railroad history anchors the district: a c. 1870 depot built to serve two lines, the Ludwig Building that housed a saloon and lodging for section crews, and a relocated c. 1900 interlocking tower. The surrounding area grew with industries such as the Schantz Organ Company and a cider mill that became the Smucker company, and with Pennsylvania Railroad investment in 1907. Population rose from 1,651 in 1900 to 3,101 in 1910, and many frame buildings were replaced with brick. Notable examples include the three-story Fike Memorial Block of 1907, the Italianate Chaffin-Brenneman Block, a barber shop operating since the 1870s, and three bank buildings, including the granite First National Bank of 1917.