Erie County Oil Products Co.
Why it's listed
Built in 1922 at 649 Tiffin Avenue in Sandusky, this small brick gas station recalls the early days of motoring. It is a one-story, square-plan building with stucco wall treatment and a tin tile mansard roof with four square corner projections. The overhang rests on square wooden pillars set in a concrete curb, and a broad barge board runs along the roof line. Four large six-light windows and a door with a transom give the front an open look. The pumps are gone, and a side pit that cars once drove over, used before hydraulic lifts, was filled in only recently. The station was put up by the Erie County Oil Products Co., dealers in gasoline, kerosene and lubricating oils, to serve drivers in the West End. It was listed because it is one of very few early gas stations still nearly intact and the only one remaining in Sandusky. It sits on a busy corner in a mixed business and residential neighborhood, vacant and in poor condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is one of very few gas stations from the early automobile era that remain almost intact, and the only one left in Sandusky. It was built by a dealer in gasoline, kerosene and lubricating oils to serve West End drivers soon after World War I.
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 82001396, listed October 20, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 649 Tiffin Ave., Sandusky |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | October 20, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001396 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1922 |
| Areas of significance | Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant, in poor exterior condition and described as endangered by neglect; the gas pumps were removed and a side service pit was recently filled in. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.44636, -82.75066 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 82001396.
- 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.