Davis and Dague Grocery Store, Old
Also known as: Crystal Lamp Restaurant
Why it's listed
Standing at the northeast corner of Main and College Streets in the heart of Fredericktown's business district, this two-story brick building dates to about 1890 and is designed in the Richardson Romanesque style. It has a sandstone foundation, a flat composition roof, and wood and metal trim. The ground floor has large plate glass windows separated by ornate cast iron columns. A small cornice with a dentil course divides the first and second floors, and the upper story has paired windows grouped under round arches. The building first served as the Davis and Dague Grocery Store, which operated there for many years. It later housed the post office, run by Walter and Grace Dale, and for roughly twenty years before the survey it has been a restaurant. The survey describes it as perhaps the most ornate commercial block in Fredericktown. Its exterior and interior were both recorded in good condition, though the interior has been altered somewhat.
Significance in brief: The inventory form describes it as perhaps Fredericktown's most ornate commercial block. It housed the Davis and Dague Grocery Store for many years and later served as the post office. Its cast iron columns, cornice and arched upper windows illustrate commercial architecture of the period.
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 79003869, 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 | 79003869 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1890 |
| Architectural style | Richardson Romanesque |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Commercial use; it has been a restaurant (Crystal Lamp Restaurant) for about twenty years. Exterior and interior are listed in good condition, with some interior alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.48261, -82.54284 (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 79003869.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138392062
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.