West Side Planing Mill (rear)
Why it's listed
Tucked in the middle of a residential block on Newark's west side, this two-story frame building houses a working planing mill. Its low gable roof and tar-paper-covered tongue and groove siding hide a structure thought to have begun in the late 19th century as a barn for mules on the Ohio and Erie Canal. Brothers Wayne Meridith Walters and Ernest Elmer Walters, both carpenters, set up the shop in 1921, buying second-hand machinery from the Jewett Street Car Works after it closed in 1919. Inside, a steel line shaft with wooden pulleys drives sanders, saws, planers, shapers, a mortising machine and a lathe by leather belt, with equipment dating from 1886 to 1915. The mill produced standard millwork such as sash, doors and turned work. It was listed because it preserves a complete early 20th-century shop that still operates commercially, which may be unique in Ohio.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the mill embodies a distinctive type of turn-of-the-century shop technology. It is a complete woodworking shop with belt-driven machinery dating from 1886 to 1915. Its continued operation as a commercial enterprise offers a rare view of an early 20th-century shop that may be unique in Ohio.
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 83002000, listed January 21, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 197 Maholm St., Newark |
|---|---|
| County | Licking County |
| Listed | January 21, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83002000 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- (specific date 1921) |
| Architect / builder | W.M. and E.E. Walters |
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in commercial use as an operating woodworking shop; condition listed as good and altered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.05085, -82.42754 (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 83002000.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.