Bradford Shoe Company Building
Also known as: Neilston Building; Fra-2806-18
Why it's listed
Located at 232 Neilston Avenue in northeastern downtown Columbus, this four-story brick industrial building was assembled from three separate sections. The oldest, at the east end, predates 1899 and has wood framing. A middle section of paving brick followed before 1910. The western section, built around 1910, has a concrete frame, steel industrial windows, a shaped parapet and a concrete panel bearing the company name. Inside, heavy timbers, wood floors and top-floor skylights provide open, well-lit work space. The Bradford Shoe Company, founded in 1908 by Columbus native Frank Bradford, grew from a frame building on the site into all three sections, which it joined into one. Bradford died in 1920, and family members ran the firm until it disbanded in 1926. The building is significant for its link to this successful local manufacturer and as a surviving example of the wholesaling and light manufacturing district that once surrounded it. The building is recorded as vacant.
Significance in brief: The building is the only home of the Bradford Shoe Company, considered one of Columbus's most successful local enterprises of the early 20th century. It also represents the light industrial and warehousing operations that once filled the northeastern part of downtown. It is one of a dwindling number of such resources.
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 94000772, listed July 22, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 232 Neilston, Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | July 22, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000772 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1908-1926 |
| Architectural style | Other/industrial |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as vacant/not in use. After the shoe company closed, the building housed various light manufacturing and warehouse uses. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.96797, -82.99464 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 94000772.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q104213399
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.