Upson-Walton Company Building
Also known as: Samsel Rope and Marine Supply Company
Why it's listed
This three-story masonry and cast-iron building at 1310 Old River Road in Cleveland rises to four stories on its back side facing the Cuyahoga River docks. It is effectively two contemporary buildings of identical style joined together, with arched windows topped by cast-iron hood moldings and square cast-iron columns on the lower level. The top floor holds a sail-making loft measuring 70 by 75 feet. Its exact construction date is unknown but is presumed to be about 1871, when J. E. Upson and J. W. Walton founded the business that located here. They grew it into a world-wide marine supplier dealing in wire rope, manila rope, tackle and fittings. Only two firms occupied the building between 1871 and 1973, and it served as a ship chandler's store and warehouse for over a century. It is valued as a rare survivor of the post-Civil War riverfront commercial district, with simple, handsome elevations and cast-iron construction.
Significance in brief: It is an unusual survival of the post-Civil War commercial and warehouse district along the Cuyahoga River. It served as a ship chandler and marine supply warehouse for over 100 years with only two occupants. Its simple architecture and cast-iron column construction add to its importance.
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 74001457, listed January 21, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1310 Old River Rd. (W. 11th St.), Cleveland |
|---|---|
| County | Cuyahoga County |
| Listed | January 21, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001457 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (circa 1871) |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition, altered, and occupied; the street front was recently cleaned and painted, and some dockside windows were bricked in. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Cleveland Warehouse District |
| Coordinates | 41.49798, -81.70264 (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 74001457.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137698124
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.