Valentine Theater Building
Also known as: Renaissance Building
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Occupying nearly half a city block in downtown Toledo, this four-story yellow brick building combined a large theater with offices. Edward Oscar Fallis designed it for businessman George Ketcham, who named it for his father, Valentine Ketcham. The theater opened on Christmas Eve 1895. Its cantilevered balcony gave unobstructed stage views, and its stage was reported to be the largest between New York and Chicago. The upper floors served as Toledo's city hall until the 1920s, housing mayors Samuel Jones and Brand Whitlock, and were converted to a hotel in 1936. In 1942 Rapp and Rapp redecorated the interior in a modernistic Chinese theme, and the first-floor storefronts received a Tudor Style remodeling. The building is considered Toledo's oldest remaining theater and a good example of early mixed use. The city bought it in 1976 and left it vacant in 1983. Its exterior remains in good condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a significant example of turn-of-the-century commercial architecture and of Toledo's shift toward taller buildings, and the work of prominent architect E.O. Fallis. It contains Toledo's oldest remaining theater, with a cantilevered balcony unique in the city in 1895 and a 1942 Rapp and Rapp Chinese-themed redecoration. It is also an early example of mixed use, combining a theater, city offices and later a hotel.
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 87000686, listed May 19, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 405--419 Saint Clair and 402--412 Adams, Toledo |
|---|---|
| County | Lucas County |
| Listed | May 19, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000686 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1892-1895/1942 |
| Architect / builder | Edward Oscar Fallis |
| Architectural style | Late 19th-century commercial style with terra cotta detailing; first floor remodeled in Tudor Style (1942); interior in modernistic Chinese theme (1942) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant since 1983; exterior in good condition and theater and commercial interiors in fair condition. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Toledo Central Business Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.65316, -83.53334 (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 87000686.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7911022
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.