Martin Block and Kibby Block
Also known as: Schnorf Hardware
Why it's listed
Built in 1884, the Martin and Kibby Block is a three-story brick commercial building at 140-146 South Main Street in Lima, near the southwest corner of the Public Square. Its Victorian Gothic design includes brick pilasters flanking two front entries and rising to pedimented parapets above name and date plates. Windows are varied, with flat carved stone lintels and projecting hood molds on brackets in four patterns, and the fourth floor has nine-paned colored glass transoms. Corbelling and a projecting eave with Gothic trim between brackets complete the design. The first floor of the south facade was later remodeled with pale orange and black Carrara glass, but the building is otherwise little altered. It was listed because it keeps the highest degree of architectural integrity among Lima's Victorian Gothic commercial buildings and marks the transition between the Public Square and the South Main Street blocks built after the oil boom. It has housed a hardware business.
Significance in brief: The inventory states it retains the highest degree of architectural integrity among Victorian Gothic commercial buildings in Lima and has been remodeled very little. Its location also makes it a key link between the Public Square and the South Main Street blocks built after the oil boom. Reviewers called it an outstanding example of Victorian Gothic commercial architecture.
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 82001868, listed October 7, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 140-146 S. Main St., Lima |
|---|---|
| County | Allen County |
| Listed | October 7, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001868 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Victorian Commercial (Gothic) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good for the exterior and fair for the interior; used as a hardware store. The first floor of the south facade has been remodeled with Carrara glass. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.73884, -84.10536 (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 82001868.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6776959
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.