Franklinton Apartments at State and May
Also known as: The Castle
Why it's listed
Known locally as "The Castle," this three-story brick apartment building occupies the northeast corner of West State Street and South May Avenue in Franklinton, on Columbus's near west side. Built around 1900, it has an L-shaped plan and two decorative facades in the Queen Anne style. Semi-octagonal corner towers with pyramidal roofs and finials, mansard roofs, gambrel and flat-roofed projections, and multicolored Roman brick with sandstone trim give it a commanding presence. Each apartment has its own street entrance. A remodeling in the late 1970s and early 1980s replaced the windows and rebuilt the porches, yet the main architectural features survive. The building represents the residential boom that followed industrial growth, electric streetcar lines and civic improvements in west Columbus around the turn of the 20th century. It is one of four surviving corner rowhouse apartment buildings of its type in Franklinton, and one of two considered to retain enough integrity to be listed.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it reflects the residential boom in Franklinton around 1900, driven by industrial growth, streetcar service and civic improvements on Columbus's west side. It is also a good example of a local building type, the large L-shaped corner rowhouse apartment building. It is one of four remaining examples in the neighborhood, and one of two judged to retain enough integrity.
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 05000027, listed April 22, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 494-504 State St., 74-82 S. May Ave., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | April 22, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000027 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-1913 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as multiple-unit apartments. Remodeled in the late 1970s/early 1980s with replaced windows and rebuilt porches; the third floor is no longer occupied. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.95882, -83.01378 (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 05000027.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q104830559
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.