High Street Commercial Block
Also known as: Second National Bank Building; Howell-Sohngen Building; McCrory's (BUT 727-9)
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Three connected three-story buildings at 228, 232 and 236 High Street make up this commercial block in downtown Hamilton, Ohio. Built between 1874 and about 1878, they include the Italianate Second National Bank building, the Italianate Howell-Sohngen dry goods building, and the Davis-McCrory building, a rare local example of First Renaissance Revival style. Their sandstone fronts rise above storefronts altered over the decades for tenants such as A&P, J.C. Penney and McCrory's. A metal false front added in the 1950s and removed in 1993 left parts of the cornices missing. Inside, pressed tin ceilings, plaster walls, an original bank vault and traces of three-story skylight atria survive. The block was listed for its architecture and for its place in the commerce of a once vibrant High Street corridor. It is one of the few 19th century groups remaining there, with a period of significance of 1874 to 1953. The buildings are currently vacant.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites the block under Criteria A and C, for its role in Hamilton's commercial history and for its architecture. The buildings show Italianate and First Renaissance Revival styles and are among the few 19th century buildings left on High Street. Their interiors preserve pressed tin ceilings, skylight atria evidence and an original bank vault.
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 04000113, listed March 3, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 228,232,236 High St., Hamilton |
|---|---|
| County | Butler County |
| Listed | March 3, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000113 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1874-1953 |
| Architectural style | Italianate; First Renaissance Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as vacant. Storefronts are covered by plywood surrounds with painted depictions of the original storefronts. Upper floors and interiors are largely intact. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Within district | Hamilton Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.39991, -84.56073 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 04000113.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5757190
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.