Old Vermilion Banking Company Building
Also known as: Williams Law Offices
Why it's listed
Built in 1907 as a bank, this one-story building on Liberty Avenue in Vermilion, Ohio, is a small but elaborate example of Beaux Arts design. Its facade is cast concrete painted white and carries classical ornament: Ionic pilasters, a pediment over a grand arch, a smaller pediment above the entrance, and a crowning parapet. The lot is only about 15 feet wide, and the building is squeezed between two larger neighbors, which makes it the narrowest on the street as well as perhaps the most ornate. It is cited as one of the better examples of the richly decorated classical style that banks once favored, and as a distinctive small-scale bank with excellent cast concrete detailing. A local law firm later acquired it for offices. The interior has been recently renovated and features high ceilings and skylights. A parking lot lies to the rear, and a small garden was planned behind the building.
Significance in brief: The inventory describes it as perhaps the most ornate and the narrowest building on Liberty Avenue. It is called one of the better examples of the richly ornamented classical style that banks once preferred, with excellent cast concrete detailing on a small scale.
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 79003935, listed November 14, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 5581 Liberty Ave., Vermilion |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | November 14, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003935 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now used as offices; interior recently renovated and in very good condition, exterior in good condition. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.42170, -82.36567 (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 79003935.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137783949
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.