Saunders Seed Company
Also known as: Tipp Leaf Tobacco Company Warehouse
Why it's listed
Standing at the corner of West Broadway and South Fourth Street in Tipp City, Ohio, this brick building dates from 1906 and sits along the railroad corridor that shaped the town's industry. Eli Saunders built it as a tobacco warehouse for the Tipp Leaf Tobacco Company, and it was converted to seed use in the 1920s. The structure is a simple rectangle of brick bearing walls on a stone foundation, with heavy timber framing, wood floors and painted signage on its exterior. Inside, line-shaft equipment still cleans, sorts and packages seed, and the retail store and manager's office keep their early finishes. Local farmers brought corn, soybeans and grain to be processed for the next year's planting, and the company sold its Miami brand seeds, concentrating on open-pollinated varieties. The building was listed for its role in the city's early 20th century industrial and agricultural history, and it continues operating as a seed business.
Significance in brief: The building is significant under Criterion A as representative of Tipp City's early 20th century industrial history. It is described as the only business of its kind in the city and the only early 20th century industrial building that retains so much of its original design, form and materials. It reflects the link between local industry and the surrounding agricultural community.
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 10000194, listed April 13, 2010. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 101 W Broadway, Tipp City |
|---|---|
| County | Miami County |
| Listed | April 13, 2010 |
| Reference number | 10000194 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1906-1959 |
| Architect / builder | Eli Saunders (builder) |
| Architectural style | Other/early 20th century industrial |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The company still operates at its original location with retail and wholesale seed sales, and the building retains a high degree of integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.95928, -84.17270 (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 10000194.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138589495
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.