Lima Pennsylvania Railroad Passenger Depot
Also known as: Lima Train Station
Why it's listed
Built in 1887 on the northeast side of Lima, Ohio, this one-story brick passenger depot served the Pennsylvania Railroad. It replaced a badly deteriorated older station after years of requests from local officials and citizens. The building has a two-story tower that once held the telegraph and ticket offices, steep multiple roofs, wall dormers over its entrances, pressed brick with narrow red mortar joints, and a rock-faced sandstone foundation. Eastlake-style jigsawed wooden brackets support the eaves of the tower roof. Inside, the plan once included separate ladies' and gentlemen's waiting rooms and a baggage room. Changes came over time: entrance porches were removed between 1950 and 1956, doors were replaced in 1975, and the interior was reorganized around 1942. The depot is recognized for its part in the city's rail transportation history and as a fine local example of Queen Anne station architecture. It is now vacant, with its windows boarded up.
Significance in brief: The depot is significant under Criterion A for its role in transportation, as an 1887 replacement for a deteriorated station after long requests from local officials and citizens. Under Criterion C it is significant as one of the most prominent masonry train depots in Lima, with Queen Anne and Eastlake features such as irregular massing, steep roofs, dormers, pressed brick and jigsawed brackets.
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 03000805, listed August 21, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 424 N. Central Ave., Lima |
|---|---|
| County | Allen County |
| Listed | August 21, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03000805 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1887-1952 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne (with Eastlake elements) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant/not in use; windows and main doors are boarded or covered with plywood, and the platform and landscape have been altered. |
| Acreage | 1.1 |
| Coordinates | 40.74501, -84.10189 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 03000805.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6548825
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.