Bowman, Jacob, Tobacco Warehouse
Why it's listed
Built around 1906 on a previously vacant corner lot at East Grant and North Jefferson Streets in Lancaster, this four-story brick warehouse rises over a raised basement with a limestone foundation. Its north and south elevations are five bays wide, and its roof is covered with rolled asbestos sheeting. Tobacco was stored on the first floor, while curing, known as sweating, took place on the upper three floors. By 1931 the building housed the Minkoff Leaf Tobacco Co., which still owned it in 1947. Painted signs for the firm remain between the first and second stories on the north and west elevations. The warehouse is significant for its part in Lancaster City's major late nineteenth and early twentieth century cigar leaf industry. It also typifies the many industrial buildings the city produced in the early twentieth century. Its physical condition retains the original form and detailing, with some brickwork repairs, and it is used for storage today.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the warehouse is significant for its role in Lancaster City's late nineteenth and early twentieth century cigar leaf tobacco processing and storage industry. It is also significant as a representative example of the city's early twentieth century industrial buildings. The form states the building retains very good integrity.
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 90001400, listed September 21, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 226--230 E. Grant St., Lancaster |
|---|---|
| County | Lancaster County |
| Listed | September 21, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001400 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1906-1940 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The building presently is used for storage. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Lancaster City Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.04003, -76.30041 (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 90001400.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6118403
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.