Harvard Company-Weber Dental Manufacturing Company
Also known as: Factory Industrial Supply
Why it's listed
Built in 1896 at 2206 13th Street NE in Canton, Ohio, this brick factory was designed by Guy Tilden, described as Canton's most prominent architect, for Frank Case. Case was a pioneer in making dental furniture, and at one time the plant was billed as the largest in the world devoted to that product, with agencies in London and Melbourne. In 1937 the Harvard Company merged with the Weber Dental Manufacturing Company. The complex is dominated by a Romanesque tower with a heavy rock-faced sandstone first story, brick upper stories, chamfered corners, corbelled parapets, a battlemented roofline and slender arched windows. Some tower windows have been replaced or infilled. The one-story factory has a low roof with exposed rafters and arched windows with decorative brick trim. It is considered one of the three best surviving Romanesque buildings by Tilden, alongside Trinity Lutheran Church and the Case Mansion. It remains in industrial use, though in fair condition.
Significance in brief: The tower is described as an outstanding example of Guy Tilden's success in developing the Romanesque style. The building is also tied to Frank Case, a pioneer in dental furniture manufacturing, and to a factory once billed as the largest in the world devoted to that product. It is one of the three best surviving Tilden Romanesque buildings.
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 87001194, listed July 21, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2206 Thirteenth St. NE, Canton |
|---|---|
| County | Stark County |
| Listed | July 21, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001194 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Guy Tilden (architect); builder unknown |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a factory/warehouse; interior and exterior in fair condition; described as endangered by neglect in a deteriorating mixed-use neighborhood. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.80950, -81.34769 (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 87001194.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5676330
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.