Metropolitan Block
Why it's listed
Rising five stories at the corner of North Main and North Streets in Lima, this brick and stone commercial building dates to about 1890 and is described as the city's most outstanding commercial structure. Built in the Victorian Romanesque style, it has a rubble limestone foundation, a slate hip roof, round-arched windows with stone trim, gabled dormers and a curved-glass corner bay. Only the conical tower on the southwest corner is missing. It originally housed the Metropolitan Bank along with a dry goods store, grocery, legal offices and a music store. Inside, iron posts, a pressed metal ceiling, skylights and original floors and woodwork survive. Hardware has been sold on the first floor and basement since 1936. Lima boomed after oil was discovered in 1885, and its population tripled by 1900, which fueled ornate Victorian construction. Of the elegant buildings once lining the street north of the Public Square, this is the one that keeps its original integrity, and it faces the county courthouse.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is probably the most outstanding example of Victorian Romanesque commercial architecture in the area. It is the only one of several elegant Victorian buildings north of Lima's Public Square that remains with its original integrity. Its location across from the Allen County Courthouse also makes it important to downtown revitalization.
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 79001780, listed November 29, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 300 N. Main St, Lima |
|---|---|
| County | Allen County |
| Listed | November 29, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001780 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Victorian Romanesque |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition rated fair; near-original except for a missing conical corner tower, with some water damage from roof leaks. The first floor and basement have been used as a hardware store since 1936. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.74296, -84.10447 (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 79001780.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6825005
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.