Riddle Block #11
Why it's listed
Riddle Block #11 is a three-story brick commercial building at the northwest corner of East Main and Prospect streets in Ravenna, Ohio. Completed in 1914, it was the last of nine surviving commercial buildings put up between 1870 and 1914 by H.W. Riddle, a local businessman and carriage manufacturer. The building has a central parapet that carries its name, brick pilasters linking the second and third floors, and a broad stone entablature that wraps around the structure. Stone voussoirs accent the windows. The ground-floor storefronts have been modernized, though their basic structure remains largely intact. It stands at the eastern edge of downtown, across from the surviving Riddle Carriage Factory buildings. The block is considered an unusually fine Neoclassical commercial design and one of the largest downtown buildings. It reflects a period when American communities were being reshaped by more restrained, academically inspired architecture, and it is linked to Henry Warner Riddle's role in the town's development.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the last of nine surviving Riddle commercial buildings erected between 1870 and 1914 and one of the larger, more elegant ones. It is described as an unusually fine example of Neoclassical commercial architecture and one of the community's largest downtown buildings. It is also tied to Henry Warner Riddle, who played an important role in the town's growth.
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 85000626, listed March 18, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 133-137 E. Main St., Ravenna |
|---|---|
| County | Portage County |
| Listed | March 18, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85000626 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Interior and exterior condition are listed as good; the storefronts have been modernized but retain their basic structure. Present use is the same as the original (commercial block/apartments). |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.15794, -81.24201 (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 85000626.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138654318
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.