Brick Commercial Block
Why it's listed
Standing at the northwest corner of Main and College Streets in Fredericktown, this two-story brick commercial block dates to 1875. It was built after a disastrous fire that year destroyed the frame commercial buildings along this side of the street. The building rests on a sandstone foundation and has a flat composition roof, with wood and metal trim. The first floor has large plate glass windows separated by square iron piers that support the structure above, and an ornamental cornice divides the first and second floors. Upper windows are segmental arched with hood molding, and an elaborate bracketed cornice crowns the facade. It is regarded as a good and quite well-preserved example of Italianate architecture. The interior has been altered somewhat, though both interior and exterior are in good condition. The block remains in commercial use in a densely built part of downtown, with residences behind it, and has about 75 feet of street frontage.
Significance in brief: The building was constructed in 1875 after a fire that year destroyed the frame commercial buildings on this side of the street. It is described as a good, well-preserved example of Italianate architecture in the heart of the town's commercial center.
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 79003857, listed November 6, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Main and College Sts., Fredericktown |
|---|---|
| County | Knox County |
| Listed | November 6, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003857 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition rated good for interior and exterior; still in commercial use; interior has received some alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.48269, -82.54355 (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 79003857.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138391337
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.