Drawing published in 1887

The Philadelphia Building was a commercial structure in Downtown Columbus, Ohio, on the northwest corner of Rich and High streets (215-219 S. High Street). The structure was only extant for about five years, from approximately 1887 to 1892, before being destroyed in a fire.

The building was built around 1887, sponsored by “eastern capital”, and potentially was being built as an investment project for heirs to a trust fund; criticisms were also given about its construction materials. The building’s foundation report stated an iron fire-proof building was to be built on the site, but the structure was finished “almost entirely with wood”.

The Philadelphia Building was the first location of the Godman Shoe Company; in 1891 the building also held the W. C. Ewings Carriage Factory, Gazette Printing, and a drug store and wholesale liquor store.

The building was just south of the Metropolian Opera Block, built shortly after the American Civil War. In 1892, a fire started in the Philadelphia Building, spreading to the Opera Block and consuming both buildings.

 

Gallery

1887 map showing the unfinished building1891 mapIllustration of the 1892 fire

 

References

  1. https://www.loc.gov/resource/g4084cm.g4084cm_g066561891/?sp=14&st=image&r=0.797,0.759,0.196,0.163,0
  2. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.webproxy3.columbuslibrary.org/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=favorite%3ACOLUMBUS%21Columbus%2520Dispatch%2520Historical%2520and%2520Current&sort=_rank_%3AD&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=%22godman%20shoe%22%20%22high%20and%20rich%22&docref=image/v2%3A1467499E363272B3%40EANX-NB-1647C8004673987D%402424500-16478382D2F5B015%4022-16478382D2F5B015%40
  3. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.webproxy3.columbuslibrary.org/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=favorite%3ACOLUMBUS%21Columbus%2520Dispatch%2520Historical%2520and%2520Current&sort=_rank_%3AD&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=%22philadelphia%20building%22&docref=image/v2%3A1467499E363272B3%40EANX-NB-1630805B00C12014%402412124-16305BB350A0282B%405-16305BB350A0282B%40
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