Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building and Madison Theater
Why it's listed
Two joined buildings on Park Avenue West in downtown Mansfield form a civic landmark. The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building, finished in 1889 to designs by Oscar Cobb, was conceived as a monument to Civil War veterans and as a home for the new public library and museum. Built of rock-faced sandstone with a corner tower and a steep hip roof, it contrasts with the flat-roofed brick storefronts around it. Behind it was an opera hall, which burned in 1929. The Madison Theater replaced it in 1931 with plans by New York theater architect John Eberhard. Its reinforced concrete structure has a modest street front, but the lobbies and the roughly 1,500-seat auditorium carry lavish Art Deco ornament. It is described as one of the last grand movie palaces built in Ohio. Both buildings were built with public funds and operated jointly. Their listing recognizes the architecture and their long role as a community gathering place.
Significance in brief: The Memorial Building is argued to be an excellent example of Richardsonian Romanesque design and a visual landmark among brick commercial neighbors. The Madison Theater is the best Art Deco building downtown and one of the last grand movie palaces built in Ohio. Together they served for decades as a civic center for veterans, displays, meetings and entertainment.
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 80003214, listed May 27, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 36 Park Ave., W., Mansfield |
|---|---|
| County | Richland County |
| Listed | May 27, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003214 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1888-89; 1929-31 |
| Architect / builder | Oscar Cobb, Chicago; John Eberhard, N.Y.C. |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque (Memorial Building); Art Deco (Madison Theater) |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Both buildings had declined in use; restoration of the theater was underway and a public use for the Memorial Building was being planned. The third-floor museum was closed to the public. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Downtown Mansfield Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.75888, -82.51687 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 80003214.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q65555702
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.