Miller, David H., Tobacco Warehouse
Why it's listed
Built in 1900 by David H. Miller, a Lancaster City plumber, this three-story red brick warehouse rises over a stone foundation on North Market Street in Lancaster City. Its six-by-nine bay plan is laid in common bond, with brick pilaster-like strips, segmental arched openings and a raised parapet on the east facade. Miller purchased the site from the estate of Dana Graham and erected the warehouse for the storage of cigar leaf tobacco. A brick wall divides the interior into two equal portions, and by 1904 each side was used for tobacco storage, with one half leased to leaf dealer Julius Marqusee. Later occupants included G. Falk & Bro., which kept a packing department there by 1912, and Louis A. Kramer Tobacco Co., which operated from 1923 to 1929. The building is significant as a representative example of the large turn-of-the-century tobacco warehouses that were central to Lancaster City's industry, and it retains very good integrity.
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 presented as a representative example of the large turn-of-the-century industrial warehouses of the city, and it is noted as a good example of warehouses divided by a brick fire wall between two tenants. The building is described as having 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 90001407, listed September 21, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 512 N. Market St., Lancaster |
|---|---|
| County | Lancaster County |
| Listed | September 21, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001407 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-1929 |
| Architect / builder | David H. Miller (builder) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant from 1931 to 1938; later used for tobacco storage by the Lorillard Co. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Lancaster City Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.04647, -76.29678 (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 90001407.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15213149
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.