Sidney Waterworks And Electric Light Building
Also known as: Kah Electric Plant at Sidney
Why it's listed
Overlooking the Miami River at 121 N. Brooklyn Avenue in Sidney, this four-level building began as the town's first waterworks. After a public vote in 1872, the Holly Manufacturing Company of Lockport, New York, drew up the plans. The system, with four piston pumps and two Leffel wheels, went into service on September 9, 1873. Pipes were laid by hand by a crew of 50 men. The walls are common-bond brick on limestone lower levels, and the river facade has three round-arched windows. The upper floors served as living quarters, while the lower levels held machinery. The city later built a new plant, and the old one passed to Louis Kah, who ran a small hydroelectric operation. A Trump Water Wheel, patented in 1900, was installed during that period and remains in place. Local officials discussed turning the building into a waterworks museum, meeting room and office space.
Significance in brief: The building was one of the early municipal waterworks in the region, built when Sidney chose to supply raw water to about 5,600 residents. It retains a 1900 Trump Water Wheel from its later hydroelectric use, which may be the only such machinery still in its original setting. The Miami River facade is also cited as architecturally significant.
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 78002190, listed December 29, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 121 N. Brooklyn Ave., Sidney |
|---|---|
| County | Shelby County |
| Listed | December 29, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002190 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1873 |
| Architect / builder | Holly Manufacturing Co., Lockport, N.Y. prepared the plans and specifications for the water works system; Trump Manufacturing Co., Springfield, Ohio made the 1900 water wheel. |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Architecture, Invention |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is marked fair. The city held an option to purchase the building, and the county historical society planned to acquire it for a possible museum and community meeting space. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.28665, -84.14839 (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 78002190.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7509406
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.