Peerless Motor Company Plant No. 1
Also known as: C. Schmidt and Sons,Inc. Building; Carling Brewery
Why it's listed
Built in 1906 at 9400 Quincy Avenue in Cleveland, this large brick complex first served as the administrative offices of the Peerless Motor Company, makers of luxury automobiles. Architect J. Milton Dyer, who also designed Cleveland City Hall and the Cleveland Athletic Club, gave it an eclectic design. The front shows a central four-story section with three-story wings, a five-story central bay with a medallion, and an entrance canopy between brick piers topped with stone spheres. Inside, the administration lobby keeps its wrought iron stairway with brass treads, oak railings and floral ceramic tile. Company president James A. Bohannon saw little market for costly cars and expected Prohibition to end, so the plant was acquired in 1931 by the Brewing Corporation of America and became the Carling Brewing Company in 1933. J.C. Schultz designed the brewery conversion. The building later passed to C. Schmidt & Sons. Its design and its link to two Cleveland industries underpin its significance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an unusual example of an industrial office building in an eclectic style, with details suggesting Prairie School and Viennese Secession influences. It is also significant for its association with two important Cleveland industries, automobile manufacturing and brewing, and with architect J. Milton Dyer.
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 75001364, listed May 29, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 9400 Quincy Ave., Cleveland |
|---|---|
| County | Cuyahoga County |
| Listed | May 29, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001364 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1906 |
| Architect / builder | J. Milton Dyer (architect); J.C. Schultz (architect for the brewery conversion) |
| Architectural style | Eclectic |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition and altered; in use today as a brewery, distribution plant, storage and regional sales office. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 41.49260, -81.62099 (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 75001364.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.