Alkemeyer Commercial Buildings
Why it's listed
Two four-story brick buildings on the south side of West Court Street, between Vine and Race, sit in the north-central part of downtown Cincinnati. Number 19, the Lotze Building, was designed by local architect William Walter and built around 1879-1880 by the heirs of Adolphus Lotze, a German immigrant known for innovations in heating and stove technology. Its three-bay Italianate front has a cast iron storefront, pedimented metal lintels, sandstone stringcourses and a heavy galvanized metal cornice. Number 23 is Queen Anne in character, with tripartite windows, twin pediments of alternating brick and sandstone, checkerboard brick spandrels and a cast iron storefront on grooved columns. Edward and Mary Alkemeyer leased the first building and ran a millinery and dry goods store there until 1892, later expanding next door. At a time when Cincinnati ranked fifth nationally in clothing manufacture, the pair reflect the city's clothing and dry goods trade and the commercial block design of the period.
Significance in brief: The buildings are argued to be representative examples of late nineteenth century commercial architecture in Cincinnati. They are also tied to the city's large millinery, clothing and dry goods industry, through the Alkemeyers, who leased and operated a millinery and dry goods store there.
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 80003034, listed December 9, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 19-23 W. Court St., Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | December 9, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003034 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1879-1884 |
| Architect / builder | William Walter (19 West Court) |
| Architectural style | Italianate (19 West Court) and Queen Anne (23 West Court) |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Marked occupied and in commercial and private residence use. Both storefronts have contemporary infill, and 23 West Court has replacement windows. The Lotze Building was recently returned to commercial/residential use. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 39.10604, -84.51452 (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 80003034.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4727681
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.