Burt Building
Also known as: Burt Candy Company, Ross Radio, Inc.
Why it's listed
Located at 325-327 West Federal Street in downtown Youngstown, this three-story steel-frame commercial building has red brick sides and a grey terra cotta front. Harry B. Burt bought it in 1921 and had Heller Brothers Company renovate it, with Herman Kling & Son designing the facade and interior. It opened in April 1922 as a candy store, bakery, ice cream plant and restaurant complex, with a flower shop, the Arbor Garden, the Wisteria Tea Cottage, a 750-person Rainbow Assembly Room and a Peacock Banquet Room. Here Burt put the Good Humor ice cream bar into production, patented the machinery and process, and launched a fleet of refrigerated delivery trucks. The Burt family ran the business until 1935, when Ross Radio, Inc. took over the building and used it for sales, offices and storage. Much of the original maple flooring, plaster coffered ceilings, stair details and painted peacock decoration survives. The building is significant for its commercial history and its link to Burt.
Significance in brief: The building reflects the history of two local businesses, the Burt Confectionery Company and Ross Radio, Inc. It is also tied to Harry B. Burt, who developed the Good Humor ice cream bar here between 1922 and 1926. He obtained the patent for the production machinery and process and put the first fleet of refrigerated Good Humor trucks into service from this site.
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 08000588, listed July 2, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 325-327 West Federal St, Youngstown |
|---|---|
| County | Mahoning County |
| Listed | July 2, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08000588 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1922-1958 |
| Architect / builder | Herman Kling & Son (front façade and interior design architects); Heller Brothers Company (contractors) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements, Commercial Style |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Ross Radio occupied the building from 1935 until spring 2008. Most original Burt-era interior finishes survive, though light wells were covered and some stairways were removed or closed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.10192, -80.65457 (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 08000588.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138565105
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.