Fox's Brewery-Diamond Wine Co.
Why it's listed
Three connected buildings at 334 Harrison Street in Sandusky, Ohio, preserve the story of two nineteenth-century local industries. Built between 1854 and 1900 near the shore of Sandusky Bay, the complex has stone sections with stone lintels and sills and six-over-six windows, plus a plain brick section probably added about 1900. Several breweries operated here, starting with Fox's. In 1900 the Diamond Wine Co., begun by William Mills, son of Sandusky founder Isaac Mills, moved in and made champagne in the cellars. In 1920 the Easiest Way Manufacturing Company, described as a pioneer washing machine maker, took over the site. Over the years doors and windows were opened or closed to suit different uses, and the building later served for stove manufacture. The property was listed because it housed both a brewery and a winery, two of the city's significant industries of the period.
Significance in brief: The building is significant because it housed two of Sandusky's important 19th century industries, a brewery and a winery. Several breweries operated here, beginning with Fox's. In 1900 the Diamond Wine Co., started by William Mills, son of Sandusky founder Isaac Mills, moved in and made champagne in the cellars.
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 82001400, listed October 20, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 334 Harrison St., Sandusky |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | October 20, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001400 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1854-1900 |
| Architectural style | Vernacular |
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Exterior condition listed as fair; the form gives the present use as stove manufacture, with doors and windows altered over time for the current tenant. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.45117, -82.72445 (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 82001400.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137771771
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.