Erie County Jail
Why it's listed
Built in 1883 at 204 W. Adams Street in Sandusky, this three-story limestone building has served as the Erie County jail and sheriff's residence throughout its life. It stands across from the Erie County Court House on Washington Park, in an area of monumental buildings and imposing houses that once served as lawyers' residences and now house law offices and title companies. A tower rises above the double-door entry, and sandstone bands trim the limestone above windows and floor lines. The walls are rock-faced ashlar under a hip roof. A decorative dormer and a cupola on the west wing contrast with the massive body of the building. Triple front windows have colored glass upper panels, and carved main doors sit beneath a clear glass transom. The west wing is an early addition, and a rear addition dates from the 1960s. The builders, the Feick brothers, were German immigrants who constructed many of Sandusky's large limestone buildings and also built the Wyoming State Capitol.
Significance in brief: The inventory form describes it as an unusually fine example of a late 19th-century limestone monumental building. It was built by the Feick Brothers, German immigrant builders who erected many of Sandusky's large limestone buildings of the period. The Feicks also built the Wyoming State Capitol and college buildings in the West and Midwest.
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 82001395, listed October 20, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 204 W. Adams St., Sandusky |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | October 20, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001395 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1883 |
| Architect / builder | Philip, Adam & George Feick (Feick Bros.) |
| Architectural style | Eastlake |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a jail and residence; interior and exterior condition listed as good. The form notes the sheriff wants a more modern facility. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.45344, -82.71086 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 82001395.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5388293
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.