May Company (Additional Documentation)
Why it's listed
Anchoring the corner of Euclid Avenue and Public Square in Cleveland, this eight-story department store grew in stages between 1913 and 1931. Its metal frame is clad in white terra cotta, with nine bays of Chicago windows on the Euclid Avenue facade and a roofline topped by akroteria, a scrolled pediment and a clock in Renaissance Revival style. The structure replaced a smaller 1901 store and now holds over a million square feet, stretching south to Prospect Avenue and west to Ontario Street. The main building was designed by D. H. Burnham and Company and is regarded as a characteristic example of the Commercial style associated with the Chicago School. In 1930-31 two stories were added without interrupting business, to designs by Graham, Anderson, Probst and White, architects of the Terminal Tower complex. The addition was handled so the facade looks almost identical to the original six-story design. The company began in Cleveland in 1899 and expanded ten times on this site.
Significance in brief: The building is a significant example of the work of D. H. Burnham and Company, one of four Burnham buildings in Cleveland. It is also considered one of the most characteristic examples of the Commercial style fostered by the Chicago School. The 1930-31 two-story addition was designed by Graham, Anderson, Probst and White.
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 74001443, listed January 18, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 158 Euclid Ave. at Public Sq., Cleveland |
|---|---|
| County | Cuyahoga County |
| Listed | January 18, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001443 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 20th Century (specific dates 1914; 1931) |
| Architect / builder | D. H. Burnham and Company; Graham, Anderson, Probst and White (1930-31 addition) |
| Architectural style | Commercial style (Chicago School), with Renaissance Revival details |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in excellent condition and occupied, with the interior continually remodeled for display purposes. |
| Acreage | 1.8 |
| Within district | Euclid Avenue Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.49868, -81.69174 (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 74001443.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q134313490
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.