Adgate Block
Also known as: Rexall Super Drug-Oatman Saw Shop-Armado's Pizzeria
Why it's listed
Built in 1880 at 300-306 S. Main Street in Lima, the Adgate Block is a large, imposing three-story commercial building faced in glazed yellow brick. B.F. Matthews designed it and C.S. Cathrop built it for the Adgate family, one of the city's most prominent families. The facade is balanced, with a pattern of one, three and five bays, rusticated pilasters, flat-headed openings on the second floor, and semicircular openings on the third with smooth stone surrounds and imitation voussoirs. A centered nameplate reading "The Adgate" appears in art-nouveau-type lettering. The side facing Elm Street repeats the same window openings. Its Victorian Romanesque design and very early use of yellow brick set it apart, and it was regarded as the handsomest of the Main Street commercial buildings. It stands diagonally from Memorial Hall near the river, which marked a dividing line for 1890s commercial development along South Main. A drug store and a pizza restaurant occupy it.
Significance in brief: The survey form describes it as the handsomest of the Main Street commercial buildings. It is significant for outstanding Victorian Romanesque architecture and for a very early use of yellow brick. It was built for the Adgate family, one of Lima's most prominent families.
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 82001347, listed October 7, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 300-306 S. Main St., Lima |
|---|---|
| County | Allen County |
| Listed | October 7, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001347 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect: B.F. Matthews; Builder: C.S. Cathrop |
| Architectural style | Victorian Romanesque |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Interior and exterior condition are listed as good; it houses a drug store and a pizza restaurant and is described as well kept and maintained. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.73699, -84.10538 (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 82001347.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4682439
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.