Wells Building
Why it's listed
Located at 201-205 Federal Plaza West in downtown Youngstown, this four-story commercial building was built about 1915 on the site of the former Hotel Sherman. It has a steel frame, a rusticated white glazed terra cotta facade, and a cornice decorated with swags, lion's heads and modillions. The frieze carries vases and urns and the name "Wells." The building was likely constructed through the estate of Thomas H. Wells, a real estate developer who built several downtown commercial blocks before his death in 1905. Over the years it housed retail stores, including ladies clothing shops, with offices on the upper floors. Its corner position gives both the Federal Plaza and Hazel Street sides a strong architectural presence, and the Hazel Street side is the more intact of the two. Although porcelain panels altered the Federal Street storefront, the building was recognized as a well-detailed example of terra cotta use in early 20th century Youngstown, when commercial success supported quality materials.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building contributed to the early 20th century development of downtown Youngstown, and West Federal Street in particular, as a commercial center. It is also described as one of the earliest and most highly ornamented examples of the decorative glazed terra cotta facades that distinguished West Federal Street.
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 86001946, listed July 23, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 201--205 Federal Plaza W, Youngstown |
|---|---|
| County | Mahoning County |
| Listed | July 23, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001946 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The inventory form lists the present use as vacant and the exterior condition as good. The Federal Street storefront has been altered with porcelain panels. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.10097, -80.65196 (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 86001946.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138569041
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.