Union Steel Screw Office Building
Why it's listed
Built around 1884 at the corner of East 40th Street and Payne Avenue on Cleveland's near east side, this red brick office building served the Union Steel Screw Company, which was founded in 1872 and made wood screws from Bessemer steel before adding bolts, nails, tacks and other fasteners. The company's factory stood across the street and was demolished in 1932, leaving the office as the only surviving building tied to the firm. The company was linked to owners of the Cleveland Rolling Mill and was attacked by striking workers in 1885. After the firm was sold in 1908, the building became offices for the American Can Company and later the Evans Paper Products Company. The two-and-a-half-story Queen Anne design has limestone trim, corbelled brick, a projecting gabled center bay with turrets, and segmental arched windows. Its exterior is unaltered, and it is listed as vacant.
Significance in brief: The building is argued to be significant under Criterion A as part of Cleveland's 19th-century iron and steel manufacturing history. It is the only surviving building associated with the Union Steel Screw Company, which was tied to the Cleveland Rolling Mill owners and was involved in the 1885 strike. It is also presented as a good Queen Anne industrial administrative building that compares favorably with the best in the city.
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 88003193, listed January 13, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1675--7 E. 40th St., Cleveland |
|---|---|
| County | Cuyahoga County |
| Listed | January 13, 1989 |
| Reference number | 88003193 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1884-1908 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition with high integrity and no exterior alterations; interior condition unknown; the owner plans to restore it. Current function listed as vacant. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.51400, -81.65943 (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.
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 88003193.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137708539
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.