Lanning, T., & Co. Department Store
Also known as: Lanning Building
Why it's listed
Completed in 1904 on a corner lot at Grant and Third Streets in Dennison, this three-story brick building was built by P.A. Romig for Theodore Lanning's department store. The basement, first and second floors held the store, with a mezzanine office at the rear for accounting and supervision. The second floor also had professional offices, and the third floor held six apartments. Details include brick quoins, molded brick window surrounds, Luxfer prism glass transoms, mosaic tile and pressed metal ceilings. Lanning bought a Dennison store in 1892, when the town was a thriving railroad center, and built the new building to meet growing business. It served as Tuscarawas County's premier department store until it closed in 1967-68, unable to compete with shopping centers offering parking. Later uses included a restaurant and a pool hall. The building has been under-utilized since 1991 and shows significant deterioration. It was recognized as an intact example of a small-town department store and for its role in Dennison's commercial life.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an excellent, intact example of an early small-town department store with modest Classical Revival influences (Criterion C). It also reflects Dennison's commercial development as the town's premier retailer, supported by the railroad economy (Criterion A).
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 00000420, listed April 28, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 226-228 Grant St., Dennison |
|---|---|
| County | Tuscarawas County |
| Listed | April 28, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00000420 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1904 - 1950 |
| Architect / builder | Architect: Unknown; Builder: P.A. Romig |
| Architectural style | Early 20th Century / Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed function is vacant, with the building used for storage; the interior shows deterioration, neglect and vandalism, and the masonry, cornice, parapet and windows are in poor condition in places. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.39297, -81.33411 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 00000420.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138753287
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.