Lincoln Paint and Color Company Building
Also known as: Wolff Manufacturing Co.; Cronk Co.; Western Auto Supply; Fink Company; Futura Lofts
Why it's listed
Built in 1910 at Main and Trunk streets on the east end of Dallas's Deep Ellum district, this three-story building was financed by real estate developers Boyd D. Milam and Edward C. Connor and leased to the Nebraska-based Lincoln Paint and Color Company. Its exposed reinforced concrete frame forms a grid of bays filled with red brick spandrels and wood double-hung windows, topped by a simplified cast concrete cornice. Painted company lettering is still visible on the south side. The building was listed because it illustrates Dallas's rise as a wholesale and distribution hub, helped by nearby railroad lines, and the change of the surrounding area from residential to industrial use. It also shows an early use of reinforced concrete in the city, at a time when most large commercial buildings used load-bearing masonry or steel. Later tenants included a plumbing supplier, an auto parts retailer and the Fink Company. The building now holds apartments and keeps its original character.
Significance in brief: The building marks Dallas's growth into a regional distribution and trade center in the early 1910s. It also reflects the shift of Deep Ellum's eastern edge from residential to commercial and industrial use. As an early example of reinforced concrete construction in Dallas, it shows the move toward a simpler, functional commercial style.
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 02000730, listed July 11, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3210 Main, Dallas |
|---|---|
| County | Dallas County |
| Listed | July 11, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02000730 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1910-1952 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements: Commercial Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Converted to apartments (Futura Lofts) in a residential rehabilitation; the form says the building retains a high degree of integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Deep Ellum Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.78504, -96.77698 (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 02000730.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001834
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.