Pennsylvania Depot
Also known as: C.A. and C. Depot; Columbus, Akron, and Cleveland Depot
Why it's listed
This railroad depot on South Main Street in Mount Vernon, Ohio, was built around 1905 and served two companies in a joint venture, the Columbus, Akron and Cleveland and the Pennsylvania Railroad. The building is a rugged masonry structure with a rough-cut sandstone base, smooth warm gray brick walls, and a heavy glazed red tile roof with deep eaves that give it an Oriental character. A three-layered arched entrance faces north. Its site beside the Kokosing River relates to the area's earliest settlement and commerce, since railroads ran parallel to the waterway. In its prime the depot functioned as a center for information, commerce and military departures, and it witnessed whistle-stop campaigning, including an Alf Landon speech from the platform in 1936 before about three thousand townspeople. The nomination describes it as a fine example of small-town stations of the early 20th century that descend from the shingle style. At the time of listing it had been idle for about five years, and local senior citizens hoped to use it.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the depot sits on a strategic site beside the Kokosing River, tied to the area's earliest settlement and commerce. It served transportation, communications, commercial and military needs, and hosted whistle-stop political visits. Architecturally it is described as a fine example of early 20th century small-town railroad stations derived from the shingle style.
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 09000100, listed November 3, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | S. Main St., Mount Vernon |
|---|---|
| County | Knox County |
| Listed | November 3, 1972 |
| Reference number | 09000100 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 20th Century (ca. 1905) |
| Architectural style | Early 20th century small-town railroad station derived from the shingle style, with Oriental influence in roof lines |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Idle for about 5 years at the time of nomination; in good condition, locked, and relatively undamaged by vandalism. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Within district | Downtown Mount Vernon Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.39057, -82.48683 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 09000100.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138398446
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.