Conover Building
Also known as: American Building
Why it's listed
Rising thirteen stories at the corner of Third and Main Streets in Dayton, this steel and concrete building was completed in 1900 for the descendants of early merchant Obadiah Conover, a blacksmith who had acquired the quarter block around 1811. Architect Frank Andrews divided the facade into three classical parts: a four-story rusticated stone base with arcades, a six-story yellow brick middle section, and a baroque upper tier with terra cotta ornament by the O. W. Ketcham works. Andrews, who opened his Dayton office in 1894 and became nationally known for work including the National Cash Register Company buildings, kept his studio beneath an art glass rotunda on the top floor. The building later took the name American Building. A third bay was added on Third Street in 1921 and three bays on Main Street in 1924. It is valued as an example of classical design applied to an early high-rise.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as an important example of adapting classical motifs to a high-rise structure, in an eclectic Renaissance Revival style. It is also credited with contributing to the aesthetic character of downtown Dayton at its central intersection. It is tied to architect Frank M. Andrews, who gained national prominence and kept his studio on the top floor.
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 75001497, listed October 14, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 4 S. Main St., Dayton |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | October 14, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001497 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900 |
| Architect / builder | Frank M. Andrews (architect); terra cotta by O. W. Ketcham Terra Cotta Works |
| Architectural style | Eclectic Renaissance Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in excellent condition and altered, on its original site, and occupied; present use is commercial. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Downtown Dayton Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.75921, -84.19129 (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 75001497.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5162361
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.