Tiffin Waterworks
Also known as: Tiffin Waterworks Company Pumping Station
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Located on Ella Street southwest of Tiffin, this waterworks began as a city project in 1878, when Tiffin bought the dam and mill stream beside the Sandusky River, where a flouring mill had once operated. The pump house was started that year and tested in 1879. It used the Holly Direct Pressure System, driven by water power. The main building is a 1½-story brick structure with an ashlar stone foundation, segmental-arched windows, brick dentil work under the eaves and arcaded gables. Additions followed in 1911, 1915 and 1917, including a three-story tower and a 100-foot smokestack removed in 1968. The original pumps are gone, and the windows and door of the 1878 building are not original. Since 1928 it has been run for the city by the Ohio Cities Water Company, and it remains Tiffin's only pumping station. The American Water Works Association named it a National Historic Water Landmark in 1978.
Significance in brief: It is Tiffin's only pumping station and the city's main surviving public utility building from the industrial era. It used the Holly Direct Pressure System, and in 1978 the American Water Works Association listed it as a National Historic Water Landmark during the company's centennial.
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 80003229, listed January 7, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 170 Ella St., Tiffin |
|---|---|
| County | Seneca County |
| Listed | January 7, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003229 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still the only pumping station for the City of Tiffin, privately operated for the city by the Ohio Cities Water Company; original pumps are no longer in the building. |
| Acreage | 2.3 |
| Coordinates | 41.10455, -83.18715 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 80003229.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138678756
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.