Bissman Block
Why it's listed
Built in 1886 at 193 North Main Street in Mansfield, this four-story building served as the warehouse and headquarters of the Bissman Company, a wholesale grocery firm founded in 1878. Its stone main facade, made by local contractors Hancock and Dow, has carved piers, patterned spandrels, pilasters with pyramidal finials and an elaborate cornice. A balcony and wall dormer were added around 1910-20 after a fire destroyed the original clock tower. Inside, the first-floor offices keep original oak paneling, brass hardware and an ornate safe, while the upper floors remain open warehouse space with post and beam construction. The location beside the railroad reflected Mansfield's role as a wholesale distribution center. The company sold groceries until 1971 and beer from the early 1900s onward, and it stayed in the Bissman family for four generations. The building was recognized for its architecture, its craftsmanship and its place in the city's commercial history.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as one of the most elaborately designed industrial/warehouse buildings in Richland County and an excellent example of 1880s High Victorian architecture. It also shows the craftsmanship of Hancock and Dow and reflects the Bissman Company's long contribution to Mansfield's commercial base as a wholesale grocery and later beer distributor.
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 86002882, listed October 16, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 193 N. Main St., Mansfield |
|---|---|
| County | Richland County |
| Listed | October 16, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002882 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Hancock and Dow (contractors) |
| Architectural style | High Victorian Gothic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as unoccupied/vacant in the classification section, with condition marked good and the building described as remarkably intact. The same form says the company has remained a beer distributor to the present. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.76367, -82.51538 (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 86002882.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q112690839
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.