Hart's Drug Store
Why it's listed
Standing at the northwest corner of Main Street and Liberty Avenue in downtown Vermilion, Ohio, this two-story brick building dates to 1872 and reflects the Italianate style. It rests on a stone foundation, has a gable roof with composition covering, and shows stone lintels above its openings. The frontage is about 50 feet, with three bays on the front and four on the side. Wide expanses on the lower floor and broad, overhanging eaves are among its notable features, and a cornerstone marks the corner. Originally a dry goods store, it has remained a store, and its central position has made it a constant center of commercial activity. The interior has changed little, retaining much of its 19th-century fabric. Local restoration efforts have removed display signs from the facade and added street trees in front, while other old commercial buildings lie immediately to the west. It is valued as a visual landmark within the Vermilion downtown.
Significance in brief: The building occupies a prominent downtown corner and has long been a center of commercial activity. It is described as a major visual landmark with much of its 19th-century interior fabric still intact. It was originally a dry goods store.
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 79003934, listed November 14, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of Main St. and Liberty Ave., Vermilion |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | November 14, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003934 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Inventory lists interior and exterior condition as good; present use is a store. Restoration work has removed display signs and added street trees. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.42207, -82.36525 (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 79003934.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137783936
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.