Berwick Hotel
Why it's listed
Occupying 600-615 Wheeling Avenue in Cambridge, Ohio, this brick hotel has 134 feet of frontage and is the largest non-public building in the central business district. The present structure dates from 1891, when Col. Joseph Danner Taylor rebuilt his hotel after fire destroyed the first Berwick. Around 1922 the original Mansard roof and raised entry were altered, an addition was built along the Sixth Street side, and storefronts were added east of the entrance. The Richardsonian Romanesque arcade and a second-story oriel survive. Cambridge grew as a commercial center along the National Road and later the railroad, and the hotel stood near the passenger station. Taylor served four terms in Congress and was a leading local citizen. Although the remodeling reduced its architectural value, the hotel was listed for its long role as the town's major hotel and its ties to road and rail travel.
Significance in brief: The hotel is nominated for its long association with transportation in Cambridge, a commercial center on the National Road (later U.S. Route 40) with a nearby railroad station. It was built by Col. Joseph Danner Taylor, a leading local citizen and congressman. The nomination concedes the 1920s remodeling reduced architectural significance but argues historical significance remains sufficient.
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 83001975, listed March 29, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 600--615 Wheeling Ave., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Guernsey County |
| Listed | March 29, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001975 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- (specific dates 1892; ca. 1922) |
| Architect / builder | Walter S. Jamison of Zanesville (architect/contractor for the 1920s remodeling); Col. Joseph Danner Taylor (builder of the original hotel) |
| Architectural style | Originally French Second Empire with Richardsonian Romanesque arches; remodeled in a more restrained 1920s character |
| Areas of significance | Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied and unoccupied, in fair condition and altered; the owner planned rehabilitation at the time of nomination. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Wheeling Avenue Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.02516, -81.59306 (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 83001975.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4895999
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.