Eby Shoe Corporation
Also known as: Fleet-Air Corporation
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
Located in Ephrata, the Eby Shoe Corporation complex comprises a group of brick factory, warehouse and office buildings on a mixed industrial and residential street. Harry Eby established the company in Lititz and moved operations to a former tobacco warehouse in Ephrata in 1914. Building B, a three-story brick factory, was constructed in 1919 by contractor Harry M. Gerhart, and Building C, a four-story brick building with steel framing and brick piers, followed in 1923, reportedly the first steel-frame building in town. A Georgian Revival business office from the same year is attached to the complex. During the 1920s and 1930s the company was the largest shoe employer in Lancaster County, with 406 workers recorded in 1928 and 407 in 1935. The complex is regarded as the best surviving example of early twentieth-century factory design in Ephrata. The company closed in 1985 after bankruptcy and the buildings have been vacant since.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the complex exemplifies shoe manufacturing in the Lancaster area in the early 20th century, and that the company was the largest employer in the boot and shoe industry in Lancaster County in the late 1920s and late 1930s. It is described as the largest and best preserved industrial complex of the first half of the 20th century in Ephrata, with notable heavy timber and early steel-frame construction.
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 89001050, listed August 18, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 136 N. State St., Ephrata |
|---|---|
| County | Lancaster County |
| Listed | August 18, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001050 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1914-1938 |
| Architect / builder | GERHART, HARRY M. (contractor for Building B) |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival (business office) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant since the company ceased operation in 1985; the complex is described as in fair to excellent condition. |
| Acreage | 2.1 |
| Coordinates | 40.18057, -76.17436 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 89001050.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5332135
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.