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Alms and Doepke Dry Goods Company facts for kids

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Alms and Doepke Dry Goods Company
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property
AlmsDoepkeBuilding.jpg
Front and side of the building
Alms and Doepke Dry Goods Company is located in Ohio
Alms and Doepke Dry Goods Company
Location in Ohio
Alms and Doepke Dry Goods Company is located in the United States
Alms and Doepke Dry Goods Company
Location in the United States
Location 222 E. Central Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio
Area less than one acre
Built 1878
Architect Samuel Hannaford; Daniel Burnham & Co.
Architectural style Late Victorian
Part of Over-the-Rhine Historic District (ID83001985)
MPS Samuel Hannaford and Sons TR in Hamilton County
NRHP reference No. 80003035
Added to NRHP March 3, 1980

The Alms and Doepke Dry Goods Company building is a historic place in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. It's a beautiful old building designed by Samuel Hannaford. He was a very famous architect from Cincinnati. This building is a great example of Victorian architecture.

A Big Store in Cincinnati

The Alms and Doepke Dry Goods Company was started in 1865. It was founded by William F. Doepke and his cousins, William H. Alms and Frederick H. Alms. They opened a store that sold "dry goods." This meant things like fabrics, clothing, and household items.

In 1867, their store moved to a new spot in Cincinnati. This was near the Miami and Erie Canal.

Building a Landmark

The main part of the building we see today was built in 1878. Over the years, it grew bigger. More sections were added in 1886, 1890, and 1906.

The building is seven stories tall. It is made of brick with a strong stone foundation. The roof is made of slate. You can see fancy decorations on the roofline called a cornice. It also has a special type of roof called a Mansard roof. This roof has many small windows called dormers.

A Famous Architect's Work

By the late 1800s, Alms and Doepke was a very important store. It was known as the best dry goods company in the area. In 1891, about 800 people worked there!

When the company wanted to make their building bigger in 1886, they chose Samuel Hannaford. He was the most respected architect in Cincinnati at that time. Hannaford designed many different buildings. He was known for creating beautiful buildings for successful people and businesses.

A Lasting Legacy

The Alms and Doepke store was open for 90 years. It finally closed its doors in 1955.

Even after the store closed, the building remained important. Its unique design was well-kept. Because of its history and architecture, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This is a list of places important to American history. Many other buildings designed by Hannaford were also added.

Three years later, in 1983, the building became part of a larger historic area. This area is called the Over-the-Rhine Historic District. It includes over two thousand historic buildings.

Today, the building is owned by the Hamilton County government. It is used for offices, including Job and Family Services. It is located across from the Hamilton County Courthouse.

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