Renz Block
Why it's listed
Located at 320 North Main Street in Lima, Ohio, directly across from the Allen County Courthouse, this three-story brick and stone commercial building dates to about 1900 and was designed by Charles W. Dawson in a Late Victorian style. It was built as a bakery. Jacob Renz founded the business in 1887 in the Duffield Block on North Main Street, then bought the store at this address in 1903 and erected a large plant where wholesale and retail trade kept growing. By the time the firm ended in 1958 and was sold to Morgan Pennington, it was the oldest and largest bakery in Allen County. The building is noted for its ornate facade. A decorated parapet carries the name RENZ BLOCK in a decorated pediment, and the upper-story windows are double-sash with arched transoms. The parapet is described as the most elaborately decorative in the city. The lower storey has been remodeled, though the building remains in good condition.
Significance in brief: The inventory form cites the building's ornate facade, including what it calls the most elaborately decorative parapet in the city. It is also tied to Jacob Renz's bakery, which became the oldest and largest bakery in Allen County. A reviewer noted the building is architecturally distinctive.
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 82001354, listed October 7, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 320 N. Main St., Lima |
|---|---|
| County | Allen County |
| Listed | October 7, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001354 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Charles W. Dawson (architect) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Interior and exterior described as good; the lower storey has been remodeled. Present uses listed are laundry, Community Action Commission offices and apartments. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.74333, -84.10481 (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 82001354.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7313617
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.