Brand, R., and Company
Also known as: Western Shoe Company
Why it's listed
This four-story stone and brick commercial building at 120-124 St. Clair Street in Toledo dates to 1874, although county courthouse records give 1877. A stone set into the lower story names J. V. Sanfleet as builder. It once belonged to a block of similar buildings but now stands alone with parking lots on either side. The west facade combines stone and glass, with a center entrance, large display windows, cast iron columns, pilasters, segmental and round arched windows, wide stone bands and an elaborately bracketed cornice. The sides are solid brick and once abutted neighboring structures. R. Brand and Company, wine and liquor importers founded in 1849 by Adolph Brand and Guido Marx, a one-time mayor of Toledo, occupied the building for thirty-six years. In 1910 the Western Shoe Company, a wholesaler founded in 1867, bought it and has remained there. The building was recognized as a fine local example of Victorian commercial architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an excellent example of late nineteenth century Toledo commercial and Victorian architecture with local historical associations. It was home to R. Brand and Company, wine and liquor importers, for thirty-six years, and then to the Western Shoe Company from 1910.
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 75001469, listed May 27, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 120-124 St. Clair St., Toledo |
|---|---|
| County | Lucas County |
| Listed | May 27, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001469 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1874) |
| Architect / builder | J. V. Sanfleet, Builder |
| Architectural style | Victorian American commercial architecture |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Marked occupied and in commercial use; condition listed as good and altered, on its original site. The Western Shoe Company has been at the address since 1910. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Toledo Central Business Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.64931, -83.53607 (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 75001469.
- 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.