Liebler-Rohl Gasoline Station
Why it's listed
Built around 1935 at 5500 Broadway in Lancaster, New York, this tiny masonry building began as a gasoline station. It covers only 312 square feet and sits on a flat corner lot about three blocks east of the village's business district. Its stucco walls, slate hipped roof, round-arched openings with dark red brick trim, a bay window, and a gable with a clock and half-timbering give it a Tudor Revival character. Contractor John Rademacher, a leading western New York builder, constructed it, and the Liebler and later Rohl families operated the business. The station kept its original use into the 1960s, later became a gift shop, and now operates as a seasonal ice cream shop. Its significance lies in architecture: it is the village's only example of historic twentieth-century roadside commercial design and a rare local example of Tudor Revival. It reflects the move from picturesque stations of the late 1920s toward streamlined box stations.
Significance in brief: It is the Village of Lancaster's only surviving example of historic twentieth-century roadside commercial architecture. It is also a locally rare and distinctive example of Tudor Revival style. It reflects the transition between picturesque gas stations of the late 1920s and early 1930s and the later streamlined box stations.
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 99001411, listed November 30, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 5500 Broadway, Lancaster |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | November 30, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99001411 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1935-1949 |
| Architect / builder | Rademacher, John T., builder |
| Architectural style | Late 19th & 20th Century Revivals/Tudor Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Adapted from its original use; retains a high degree of architectural integrity and serves as a seasonal ice cream shop. Pumps and pump island have been removed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.89954, -78.66611 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 99001411.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6543908
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.