Graphic Arts Building
Also known as: Christian Publishing Association Building
Why it's listed
Rising five stories on the corner of Court and South Ludlow Streets in downtown Dayton, this reinforced concrete building is faced in red wire-cut brick and trimmed with limestone. Construction began in 1925, and it was designed by architects Harry I. Schenck and Harry J. Williams for the Christian Publishing Association. Inside, flat concrete slabs rest on mushroom-shaped columns, and the floors once held printing, publishing, storage and offices. The east facade shows brick piers that suggest pilasters, a dentilled limestone band and a pedimented parapet. Alterations are described as minor, mainly a plaster cover over the original first floor storefront and glass block replacing fifth floor windows. The building was recognized for its Commercial Style design and for its link to Dayton's publishing and printing industry, which included firms such as McCall's and Standard Register. The period of significance runs from 1924 to 1936. The building is currently vacant.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the building as an example of early twentieth century Commercial Style design from about 1925, showing the shift from late 19th century light industrial forms to a more modern sensibility. It is also tied to Dayton's publishing and printing history in the early twentieth century. It was listed under Criteria A and C in the areas of Commerce, Communications and Architecture.
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 09000911, listed November 12, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 221-223 S. Ludlow St., Dayton |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | November 12, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000911 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1924 - 1936 |
| Architect / builder | Harry I. Schenck & Harry J. Williams, Architects |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements - Commercial |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Communications, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The building is currently vacant. Interior partitions have been removed, and the first floor storefront is concealed behind plaster. The structure is described as sound and dry. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Downtown Dayton Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.75587, -84.19313 (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 09000911.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5597125
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.