Hinde & Dauch Paper Co.
Why it's listed
Rising three stories beside Sandusky Bay, this brick factory at 401 W. Shoreline Drive was built in 1918 for the Hinde & Dauch Paper Company. Its Sullivanesque design includes a corbeled brick cornice, a terra cotta frieze with circular brick decorations, brick pilasters with terra cotta trim, a brick string course between the first and second floors, and a brick water table. The building has an L-shaped plan and a flat roof. In the 1950s many first-floor windows were replaced with glass block. J. J. Hinde and J. J. Dauch formed a partnership in 1882 to produce straw for paper making, then bought the Sandusky Paper Mill and developed corrugated shipping boxes. Railway Express took 18 years to fully accept the method, which transformed the shipping industry. The company grew into one of the largest corrugated box manufacturers in the country, and this plant was its main production site. Westvaco acquired it in 1953. It sits on a dock and is described as the most eye-catching building on the city's waterfront.
Significance in brief: It was the main manufacturing plant for corrugated shipping boxes made by Hinde & Dauch. The firm developed corrugated boxes after buying the Sandusky Paper Mill, and the method revolutionized the shipping industry. The company became one of the largest corrugated box makers in the U.S.
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 82001407, listed October 20, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 401 W. Shoreline Dr., Sandusky |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | October 20, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001407 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Sullivanesque |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good exterior condition and used as a factory; sold to Westvaco in 1953. Many first-floor windows were replaced with glass block in the 1950s. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 41.45797, -82.71505 (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.
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 82001407.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q137777121
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.