Power and Baird, Wholesale Dry Goods and Notions
Why it's listed
Located at 1107 Broadway in downtown Columbus, this three-story brick building with a sandstone facade was apparently constructed between 1910 and 1918. City directories first list the wholesale dry goods and notions firm Power and Baird here in 1910, and the firm remained through 1918. By 1923 Lee's Department Store occupied the address, staying through 1931. A faded painted advertisement for Power and Baird survives on the south wall. The upper facade is a formal classical composition: four bays framed by two Ionic pilasters, window lintels with flat stone arches, alternating smooth and rusticated stone courses, a modillioned cornice, and cast iron vents in the frieze. The first story was remodeled around 1960 and the second floor was long hidden behind a sign, but removal of the sign showed the detailing was intact. The building is valued locally for its commercial history and as one of the finer Classical Revival commercial buildings downtown.
Significance in brief: The building is considered significant in local history because it was apparently built to house a downtown wholesale dry goods and notions firm, Power and Baird. It is also regarded as an unusually fine example of classical design applied to a commercial facade, with Ionic pilasters and a classical cornice.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80001193, listed December 2, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1107 Broadway, Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Muscogee County |
| Listed | December 2, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001193 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival-Commercial |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently occupied by a clothing store. The first and second floors were remodeled around 1960, but the form says the building is altered yet could be restored. Lowering of a sign later exposed intact second-floor detailing. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.46697, -84.99363 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80001193.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134427688
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.