Potters Savings and Loan
Why it's listed
Rising five stories at the corner of Washington Street and Broadway, this brick office building was one of the largest in downtown East Liverpool. Potters Savings and Loan built it in 1904-05 to replace its first bank building, erected in 1889. The Claude Nease Lumber Co. is listed as builder, and the architect is unknown. Its Renaissance Revival design includes a stone storefront, brick quoins and pilasters, stone keystones and beltcourses, decorative brickwork, and a cornice with modillion blocks and dentils beneath a parapet wall. The first-floor stone facing was probably added during a 1924 remodeling, which also updated interior systems. A 1926 county history named it one of the city's two outstanding office buildings. It was advertised as fireproof, a sensible claim in a downtown that had suffered two disastrous fires around 1900. The building was listed for its link to the city's commercial history and for its quality materials, craftsmanship, and three-part composition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is closely associated with the commercial history of East Liverpool and is an excellent example of an early 20th century office building. The 1926 History of Columbiana County called it one of the city's two outstanding office buildings. It was advertised as fireproof, a notable claim after two disastrous downtown fires around the turn of the century.
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 85003517, listed November 14, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Washington and Broadway, East Liverpool |
|---|---|
| County | Columbiana County |
| Listed | November 14, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85003517 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; builder Claude Nease Lumber Co. |
| Architectural style | 2nd Renaissance Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Exterior condition described as good; present use commercial; interior condition unknown. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | East Liverpool Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.61908, -80.57798 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 85003517.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7235321
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.