National Register of Historic Places

Klaus Block

Lima, Allen County, Ohio
Listed
October 6, 1982
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
82001864

About this property

The Klaus Block is a historic building in downtown Lima, Ohio, United States. Built along Main Street in 1870, it is a rectangular three-story structure built in a Victorian variant of the Gothic Revival style of architecture. The exterior features a simple rectangular shape of three bays on each side, topped with a hip roof of asphalt. Decorations such as brick corbelling and stone trim highlight the interior. Many types of businesses have occupied space in the Klaus Block through its history. In its earliest years, the block's builder operated a butcher shop in the building, and a speakeasy operated in a ballroom on the topmost floor during Prohibition. A pharmacy has always been run in its southeastern (frontmost) corner. During the 1870s, the increasing importance of the railroad industry to Lima's northern side resulted in the northward expansion of the city's downtown. The Klaus Block was one of several large buildings erected in the city at this time; among these structures was the Allen County Courthouse, which is also located to the north of the original downtown. In 1982, the Klaus Block was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of its architectural significance. It was one of seventeen Lima buildings that were listed on the National Register together as part of the Lima Multiple Resource Area.

Location

401-405 N. Main St.
Lima, Allen County, Ohio
40.74419, -84.10525

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Native Heritage
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Nearby Historic Sites

Renz Block
Industrial
0.1 mi
Allen County Courthouse
Industrial
0.1 mi
Ohio Theatre
Industrial
0.1 mi
Metropolitan Block
Industrial
0.1 mi
Elks Lodge
Industrial
0.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Klaus Block listed on the National Register?

Klaus Block was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 6, 1982.

What type of historic resource is Klaus Block?

Klaus Block is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Klaus Block?

The period of significance for Klaus Block is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Klaus Block?

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