Karolcik Building
Also known as: Perry Theater
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1921 of red textured brick and glazed terra cotta at 115-117 Liberty Street, just south of the Washington Diamond in Perryopolis, this two-story building was the largest and most ornate commercial block in the borough's center. Michael Karolcik, a grocer and meat market operator of Slovak descent, opened it on Thanksgiving 1921. It combined a 412-seat movie and vaudeville theater, storefronts, a basement bowling alley and billiards hall, and a second-floor public hall with an owner's apartment. The building's entrance features blue and white mosaic tile and leaded prism transoms, and its facade is decorated with terra cotta pilasters, belt courses and a peaked parapet bearing the name Karolcik. It is significant for its link to the coal and coke era growth of Perryopolis as an entertainment and civic center, and for its well-preserved commercial architecture. The theater and public hall ceased regular use by the 1980s.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant for its association with the early twentieth century commercial development of Perryopolis and its role as an area entertainment and civic center. It is also significant as an example of early twentieth century commercial architecture that retains integrity, reflecting prosperity derived from the coal and coke industry.
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 97001246, listed October 24, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 115-117 S. Liberty St., Perryopolis |
|---|---|
| County | Fayette County |
| Listed | October 24, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97001246 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1921-1945 |
| Architectural style | Craftsman |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The theater has been unused since the early 1980s and shows some effects of water leaks; the bowling alleys operated until the 1980s. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.08662, -79.75104 (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 97001246.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6373094
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.