Lovell Manufacturing Company
Also known as: Lovell Place
Why it's listed
Occupying a full city block in downtown Erie, Pennsylvania, the Lovell Manufacturing Company complex grew from an 1883 factory at 13th and French Streets into 11 buildings and 13 additions, most of them of brick, with one to four stories. The company began with spring beds and wire products in 1881 and later became known for clothes wringers, wringer rolls and mousetraps. At one time it was the largest producer of clothes wringers in the United States. Its buildings were joined internally so that the block could be entered throughout. Most of the contributing buildings were built between 1883 and 1946, and they keep their street facades with pilasters and corbelled brickwork. The complex is regarded as the largest and most intact factory complex in this section of Erie, and it is important as a record of how industrial buildings developed in a central city district. The company operated there until 1974, and the buildings are now used by several small businesses.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the complex is significant under criteria A and C in the areas of industry and architecture for 1883-1946. It is described as the largest and most intact factory complex of its kind in this section of Erie, with a continuous street facade and a record of industrial architecture from its growth at one location. Its products were unique to the region and marketed nationally.
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 96001551, listed January 16, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1301 French St., Erie |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | January 16, 1997 |
| Reference number | 96001551 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1883-1946 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and early 20th century American; Other: Industrial |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Lovell occupied the facility until 1974 and it is currently occupied by several small businesses. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 42.12369, -80.07853 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 96001551.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6692218
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.