Sandusky Street Historic District
Why it's listed
Sandusky Street Historic District covers roughly eight acres of downtown Delaware, Ohio, running from the Ohio Wesleyan University campus on the south to the County Courthouse and Jail on the north, with branches along William, Winter and Central Streets. Most of its dense, continuous streetscape of two- to four-story buildings dates from 1860 to 1920, and brick is the most common material. Although many storefronts have been altered, upper floors retain decorative brickwork, hoodmoulds, bracketed cornices, and some cast iron and carved stone storefronts. Styles include Italianate, Second Empire, Neo-Classical Revival and Richardsonian Romanesque. Notable buildings include the Riddle, Graff & Company Block, home to a major cigar manufacturer, and Lamb's Block. Delaware was founded in 1808, and Sandusky Street has served as its commercial center throughout its history. The district was listed for its intact, cohesive collection of commercial architecture and its long role as the town's business hub.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the district is significant for both architecture and history as an intact, cohesive group of late 19th and early 20th century commercial buildings. It shows Italianate, Second Empire, Neo-Classical Revival, Richardsonian Romanesque and early 20th century commercial styles. Sandusky Street has always been Delaware's central business district.
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 82001373, listed December 17, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 44 S. to 92 N. Sandusky, 46 E. to 31 W. Winter, and 9 E. to 17 W. William, Delaware |
|---|---|
| County | Delaware County |
| Listed | December 17, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001373 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architectural style | Italianate, Second Empire, Neo-Classical Revival, Richardsonian Romanesque and early 20th century commercial |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition marked fair; many storefronts are altered but upper facades largely survive. The district remains the active commercial center, with some rehabilitation projects underway. |
| Acreage | 8 |
| Coordinates | 40.29877, -83.06764 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 82001373.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q49557428
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.