Anderson Brothers Department Store
Also known as: Sears, Roebuck & Co.; Atlas Fashion
Why it's listed
Anderson Brothers Department Store is a six-story orange brick commercial building at the corner of Chillicothe and Third Streets in downtown Portsmouth, Ohio. Maggie Anderson Crawford began construction of the original four-story building in 1899, and it opened on January 1, 1900. In 1925 two floors were added to it and three floors were added to the smaller building next door, with matched brickwork and a unified facade so the whole appears to have been built at once. Its Second Renaissance Revival features include a symmetrical facade, round-arched openings, stone and brick detailing, and a pressed metal cornice. It is the largest historic retail building in the city. Anderson Brothers closed in 1934, and Sears, Roebuck & Company operated there from 1935 to 1984. The building was listed for its architecture, as an example of the large commercial structures built during Portsmouth's period of greatest growth, from about 1900 to 1930. Its upper floors retain a high degree of integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is an excellent example of early 20th century commercial and retail architecture in Portsmouth, retaining strong Second Renaissance Revival characteristics. It represents the large commercial structures that came to dominate the city's skyline and the style then favored for them. It was built during Portsmouth's greatest period of growth and prosperity.
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 01000052, listed February 2, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 301-307 Chillicothe St., Portsmouth |
|---|---|
| County | Scioto County |
| Listed | February 2, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01000052 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1899-1925 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Second Renaissance Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Upper floors have been unoccupied for many years; the altered first floor is occupied by a pawn shop. Storefronts are altered, but the upper exterior remains intact. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.73241, -82.99683 (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 01000052.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4754031
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.