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Peters Cartridge Company

Kings Mills, Warren County, Ohio Listed Ref. 85003115 Building Vacant per nomination
Peters Cartridge Company, Kings Mills, Ohio
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Why it's listed

Along Grandin Road in Kings Mills, Ohio, a group of reinforced concrete factory buildings recalls the days when Peters Cartridge Company made shotgun shells, metal cartridges and primers beside the Little Miami River. Construction began in 1916 and finished in 1918 as wartime orders surged. Dark red brick, geometric tile and cast stone decorate the concrete grids, and a tall shot tower modeled on an Italian Renaissance watchtower dominates the site, along with a 250-foot chimney. Detroit architects VanLeyen and Schilling are credited with the surviving drawings. The company grew from a shell-loading business founded in 1887 by G. M. Peters and was tied to the neighboring King Powder Company. It pursued research in ballistics photography and ammunition design. Remington bought the firm in 1934 and left in 1944. Later tenants included Columbia Records and a bonded warehouse. The buildings now stand empty and stripped, but the complex is valued for its architecture, its shot tower and its place in Ohio's ammunition industry.

Significance in brief: The nomination argues the complex is an outstanding example of World War I era industrial architecture, functional yet attractive, especially for rural Warren County. It also records Peters Cartridge as a leader in ammunition research and development and as a major local employer. The rare shot tower is described as unparalleled in the state.

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 85003115, listed October 10, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).

Key facts

Address1915 Grandin Rd., Kings Mills
CountyWarren County
ListedOctober 10, 1985
Reference number85003115
Resource typeBuilding
Period of significance1916 - 1918
Architect / builderVanLeyer, Schilling and Keough Assoc. (the text also names VanLeyen and Schilling, Architects, of Detroit)
Architectural styleReinforced concrete industrial buildings with dark red brick veneer and Prairie Style geometric polychrome tile; shot tower in the form of an Italian Renaissance watchtower
Areas of significanceIndustry, Science, Architecture, Invention
Level of significanceLocal
Status (as stated in the nomination)Listed as vacant and unoccupied; the buildings have been stripped, vandalized and mined for salvage, though described as basically sound.
Acreage14.2
Coordinates39.35023, -84.24268 (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

Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.