Harwood Block
Why it's listed
Built around 1889 by Amherst Harwood, this three-story painted brick commercial block on Main Street in Conneaut is a High Victorian Italianate landmark with a cast iron storefront. The iron front was made in Chicago and shipped on the Nickel Plate Railway. With no installation instructions, the street was roped off and the pieces were assembled there before being attached to the building. Corinthian-style colonettes, guilloche bands, circular medallions and a bracketed cornice lettered HARWOOD BLOCK decorate the upper floors. The ground level was always three storefronts, with the A.W. Pelton department store in the center and part of the second floor. The third floor served as an opera house from 1889 to 1903, a major stop for touring companies between Buffalo and Cleveland. It later became drill space for Company L of the Ohio National Guard and then a dance hall. Apart from the altered first floor, the building is described as little changed, and it was considered the most imposing in downtown Conneaut.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the principal and most imposing building in downtown Conneaut, and says that apart from the first floor it remains much as built. Its third-floor opera house was a major stop for touring companies between Buffalo and Cleveland. The cast iron front, made in Chicago and shipped by rail, adds to its architectural interest.
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 78002002, listed March 21, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 246, 250, 256 Main St., Conneaut |
|---|---|
| County | Ashtabula County |
| Listed | March 21, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002002 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1889 |
| Architectural style | High Victorian Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition and occupied; the department store has closed and a new commercial use is hoped for, while the opera house is scheduled for refurbishing as a community center. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.94414, -80.55573 (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 78002002.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137598578
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.