Riddle Block #9
Why it's listed
Riddle Block #9 is a four-story commercial building at 113-115 W. Main Street, on the northwest corner of Main and Chestnut streets in downtown Ravenna. Built in 1911 of hard yellow brick with thin joints and minimal terra cotta trim, it has brick pilasters between bays that correspond to the storefronts below, and a massive brick cornice with small attic windows. A two-story central light well with balustrades sits on top. The ground floor holds shops, the second floor offices, and the upper two floors apartments. H.W. Riddle, a prominent local merchant, built it soon after a fire on March 5, 1911 destroyed the wood frame commercial buildings on the site and threatened the whole downtown. The apartments were partly meant to house Italian immigrant workers from his carriage factory. The building is valued as an example of early twentieth century mixed-use architecture with Neoclassical detailing, and it remains in good condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a representative example of early twentieth century commercial architecture with mixed use: storefronts, offices and apartments. It shows Neoclassical-influenced detailing in its brick pilasters and cornice. It was erected after the worst fire in the city's history destroyed an entire downtown block, and it is one of the largest and finest commercial buildings in Ravenna.
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 85000625, listed March 18, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 113-115 W. Main St., Ravenna |
|---|---|
| County | Portage County |
| Listed | March 18, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85000625 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1911 |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition inside and out; storefronts altered; original commercial, office and apartment use continues. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.15794, -81.24344 (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 85000625.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138654237
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.