Union, Old, School Building
Why it's listed
Built around 1870 on State Street in Vermilion, Ohio, this two-story brick building began as the town's union school and originally held all classes of the Vermilion Public Schools. It later served as the high school. After it was condemned for school use and newer buildings were built elsewhere in the city, it took on industrial use as a factory warehouse. The Italianate design includes a recessed, gothic-like main entrance portal, rounded window openings, an elaborate bracketed cornice and projecting pediments at the top, with a hip roof and wood trim. The exterior has been sandblasted and pointed, the main entrance has been blocked, and the interior has been adapted to factory needs. Metal storage buildings are attached to the south and east. The building sits on a large green lawn with shade trees and shrubbery. It was recognized as one of the few union schools remaining in the area and as a rare, well-preserved example of an Italianate schoolhouse.
Significance in brief: It was built as Vermilion's union school and originally housed all classes of the Vermilion Public Schools, later serving as the high school. It is described as one of the few union schools left in the area and as a rare, well-preserved Italianate schoolhouse.
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 79003957, 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 South and Mill Sts., Vermilion |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | November 14, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003957 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a factory warehouse; the interior and exterior are described as in good condition. The school was condemned for school purposes and replaced by newer buildings elsewhere in the city. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.41810, -82.36555 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 79003957.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.