Old Harbour Store
Why it's listed
Built in 1847, this one-story wood-frame store sits on the north side of Liberty Avenue in Vermilion, Ohio, the fourth building west of Main Street. Its clapboard false front, reminiscent of a Western town, hides a gable roof covered in asphalt shingles. Large plate glass windows open the storefront below, and a simple cornice crowns the facade. The building rests on a stone foundation, has a basement, and has been restored. Over the years it housed a doctor's office, drugstore, grocery, bicycle shop, dentist's office, pool hall, and mayor's office. It was listed because it is a well preserved example of early nineteenth century commercial architecture, a type largely replaced by new construction after the Civil War. Together with the neighboring barber shop and Hart's Drug Store, it forms an attractive group of historic buildings in the heart of Vermilion's commercial area, and it remains in use as a store.
Significance in brief: The inventory form describes it as a well preserved example of early nineteenth century commercial architecture. Most similar buildings were replaced in the wave of new construction after the Civil War. It also forms part of a group of historic buildings in Vermilion's commercial core.
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 79003933, listed November 14, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Liberty Ave., W. of Main St., Vermilion |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | November 14, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003933 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate-Vernacular |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored; interior condition good and exterior very good; still used as a store. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.42199, -82.36554 (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 79003933.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137783922
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.