Reed, Joseph G., Company
Also known as: Fowler Building
Why it's listed
Rising five stories at the corner of Second and Washington Streets, this brick warehouse was built in 1906 to house the wholesale notions and dry goods business of the Joseph G. Reed Company. The firm traced its origins to 1865 and grew through several partnerships; Edward Reed, son of founder Joseph Reed, oversaw construction of the warehouse. Designed by A.B. Alger & Sons, it has Romanesque-influenced details, including arcaded upper floors with brick spandrel panels, raised brick quoins, and a simple cornice. The buff-colored brick was produced locally and appears on many of Portsmouth's large downtown buildings of the era. Built when the city was developing as a trading and manufacturing center thanks to rail and river transportation, it is among the earliest and most distinctive of the city's early twentieth-century warehouses. Its architectural integrity remains high despite conversion to apartments, and it serves as a landmark on the Ohio River waterfront next to the Boneyfiddle district.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an intact and architecturally distinctive example of early 20th century warehouse construction along Portsmouth's Ohio River waterfront. It is one of the earliest and most distinctive of the city's warehouse/office buildings of this period. Its arcaded upper floors and locally produced buff brick make it a riverfront landmark.
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 87002099, listed December 8, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 700 Second St., Portsmouth |
|---|---|
| County | Scioto County |
| Listed | December 8, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87002099 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | A.B. Alger & Sons, Architects; builder unknown |
| Architectural style | Romanesque influence |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as retaining a great deal of architectural integrity in its new use as apartments; the earlier inventory (1980) listed interior condition as poor and exterior fair, with re-use proposed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Boneyfiddle Commercial Disrict |
| Coordinates | 38.73148, -82.99888 (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 87002099.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q125880078
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.