Union Block | |
 Front of the Union Block | |
   | |
| Location | 28-38 Public Sq., Lima, Ohio |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°44′23″N84°6′17″W / 40.73972°N 84.10472°W |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1878 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| MPS | Lima MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 82001355 [1] |
| Added to NRHP | October 7, 1982 |
The Union Block is a historic business building on Public Square in downtown Lima, Ohio, United States. [2] Built in 1878, [1] it is a three-story brick building with a modified rectangular floor plan and a sloping roofline. [2]
From Lima's earliest years, the Union Block's site on the southeastern corner of today's Public Square was a leading commercial site. Preceding it was Lima's first hotel, built by the second white man to settle in Lima. [2] The Union Block was constructed during a booming period in Lima's history. As the influence of railroading in Lima expanded during the 1870s, the city itself grew significantly; the Union Block was one of several major commercial buildings erected on Public Square during this period. [3] : 5
The block's architecture is an example of a commercial variant of the Victorian style. Among its most prominent exterior details are ornate lintels and stone trim, while the interior features iron posts on the first floor and a staircase of cast iron. Each bay features a cluster of windows, most of which are composed of two or three windows. [2]
In 1982, the Union Block was listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its well-preserved architecture. Sixteen other Lima buildings were listed on the National Register at the same time; all were part of the Lima Multiple Resource Area, [1] a collection of architecturally-significant buildings in and around the city's downtown. [3] : 3 Two other buildings on Public Square were included in this collection: the Neal Clothing Building, completed before the Civil War, and the early 20th-century First National Bank and Trust Building. [3] : 5
