Wapakoneta Commercial Historic District

Wapakoneta's downtown district covers about eighteen acres around Auglaize, Willipie, Perry, Blackhoof and Main Streets in northwest Ohio. It holds 66 buildings, 53 of which contribute to its character. The area served as the commercial, governmental and social center of Auglaize County through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Most buildings are brick two-part commercial blocks, with shops on the ground floor and apartments, offices or lodge rooms above. Although many storefronts have been altered, the upper floors keep ornate detailing in Italianate, Queen Anne, Renaissance Revival and Romanesque styles. Most buildings date from 1880 to 1910. Notable examples include the H.W. Taeusch Building with its cast iron details, the Distelrath Block, the 1911 Auglaize National Bank, the 1924 Elks Lodge in Prairie style, and the 1937 Post Office. Together they trace downtown development from about 1850 to the Great Depression and show its role as a regional center for trade, transportation and culture.