McKelvey-Higbee Co. Buildings
Also known as: Gallagher
Why it's listed
This group of linked buildings in downtown Youngstown housed the McKelvey department store, later part of Higbee's. The oldest section, a three-story brick and stone building of 1885 on North Hazel Street, has a corbelled cornice, patterned brick panels and stone lintels. Additions followed in 1908, 1913 and 1917. The 1917 Federal Street building, six stories tall, has a white glazed terra cotta facade with floral spandrel panels and piers that rise above the roofline. In 1931 a polished black granite and glass storefront with Art Deco etched glass and copper canopies was added to unify the complex. G.M. McKelvey bought a dry goods business in 1883 and built it into one of the city's leading department stores, competing mainly with Strouss-Hirschberg. The company merged with Higbee in 1969, and the downtown store closed in 1982. The buildings were listed for their part in downtown commercial history and their architecture, and the inventory describes them as vacant and in need of reuse.
Significance in brief: The complex is significant for its role in the commercial development of downtown Youngstown from the late 19th century to 1983, as a local company that grew with the city. It is also significant as a collection of late 19th and early 20th century architectural styles, including an intact 1885 building and a 1917 white glazed terra cotta facade.
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 86001930, listed July 23, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 210--226 Federal Plaza W and 18--26 N. Hazel St., Youngstown |
|---|---|
| County | Mahoning County |
| Listed | July 23, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001930 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Charles F. Owsley (architect, 1917 building); G.M. McKelvey Co. (builder of the 1917 building) |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival; Late Victorian (1885 building) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Inventory sheets list the buildings as vacant after Higbee's closed its downtown store in 1982; exterior condition is listed as good to very good. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.10155, -80.65185 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 86001930.
- 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.