National Register of Historic Places

Pierce, Elijah, Properties

Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio
Listed
August 2, 1983
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
83001971

About this property

The Elijah Pierce Properties were historic buildings in Downtown Columbus, Ohio. They were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The properties included the art gallery and barbershop of Elijah Pierce at 534 E. Long St. and his former residence, at 142-44 N. Everett Alley. Pierce lived in the residence from 1946 to 1970, the longest he ever lived in one location. The barbershop was the first and only shop Pierce built. He was the barber there from 1954 until his retirement in 1980. In 1984, Pierce died and his wife sold the barbershop and art gallery building to Marvin Califf, co-owner of Columbus Time Recorder, a time clock business. He operated the business out of the space for about ten years. In 1986, the property was featured in a tourism campaign about African American culture in Ohio, the first major effort by a U.S. state government to promote minority culture. Other central Ohio landmarks in the campaign included the Martin Luther King Cultural Arts Center, the Dr. Lewis M. Early Residence, the Ohio History Center, and the Benjamin Hanby House. In late 1986, Pierce's artworks were set to permanently move to the newly-opened King Arts Center. Around 1995, Columbus State Community College began to buy up parcels for a new $7.5 million parking structure. By June 1995, he was the only hold-out of about 20 property owners, arguing that the school would not compensate him for his required move. The college was set to use eminent domain laws to force him from the property. The college eventually won the dispute, and the residence and barbershop were eventually demolished for the 1,000-car garage. A statue of Pierce stands near where the buildings had stood.

Location

534 E. Long St. and 142-44 N. Everett Alley
Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio
39.96689, -82.98664

Categories

ART
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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Pierce, Elijah, Properties

This page lists Pierce, Elijah, Properties. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Pierce, Elijah, Properties report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Thurber, James, House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Jefferson Avenue Historic District
Listed
0.1 mi
Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts
Industrial
0.2 mi
Ohio Farm Bureau Federation Offices
Industrial
0.2 mi
Broad Street United Methodist Church
Industrial
0.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Pierce, Elijah, Properties listed on the National Register?

Pierce, Elijah, Properties was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 2, 1983.

What type of historic resource is Pierce, Elijah, Properties?

Pierce, Elijah, Properties is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Pierce, Elijah, Properties?

The period of significance for Pierce, Elijah, Properties is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Pierce, Elijah, Properties?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Pierce, Elijah, Properties will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Franklin County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Franklin County.

Explore FranklinCounty ›

More historic places in Ohio

Browse all historic places in Ohio.

View Ohiohistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Ohio history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Ohiohistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Pierce, Elijah, Properties will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report