Charles Wintzer Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Charles Wintzer Building
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Front and side of the building
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 202 W. Auglaize St., Wapakoneta, Ohio |
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| Built | 1872 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 10000455 |
| Added to NRHP | July 8, 2010 |
The Charles Wintzer Building is a historic brick building in downtown Wapakoneta, Ohio. It was built in 1872 at the corner of Auglaize and Blackhoof Streets. This building has always been used mainly for industrial purposes. In 2010, it was officially named a historic site.
Contents
The Wintzer Company Story
The Wintzer Company has a long history in the area. Charles Wintzer, one of the first settlers, started a tannery in 1848. A tannery is a place where animal hides are processed to make leather.
Growing the Business
The Charles Wintzer Tanning Company focused on making leather products. It grew by buying another local company in 1862. By 1905, the company was making a lot of leather. They processed about 1,250 animal hides each year.
Changing How They Worked
In 1905, the company changed its main business. Instead of making leather, they started selling raw hides to other tanneries. They also bought and sold other animal byproducts. The company stayed in the Wintzer family. It was renamed G.A. Wintzer & Son in 1920.
Expanding and Staying Local
As the company grew, it built more factories outside Wapakoneta. But it kept using the old tannery building at Auglaize and Blackhoof Streets. This building was used for manufacturing and as the company's main office.
Building Design and Use
The Wintzer Building was built in 1872. It was first used as the company's main tannery. But it was also a home! The Wintzer family ran their business on the first floor. They lived on the second floor.
Architectural Style
The building's style is similar to warehouses found along the Miami and Erie Canal. Even though the Wintzers were German and built their home and office in a German style, it also has clear Italianate features. Italianate is a popular style from the 1800s.
From Home to Office
The second floor was a home until at least 1969. By the late 1970s, the whole building had become a factory and corporate office space. This shows how the building changed over time.
Why It's a Historic Site
On July 8, 2010, the Charles Wintzer Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This happened mainly because its historic design is very well-preserved.
Important Features
The Ohio History Connection suggested the building for this honor. They focused on two main things:
- It's a great example of German architecture from the late 1800s.
- It combined living space and industrial work under one roof.
Local Significance
The building's connection to G.A. Wintzer & Son was also important. This company still owns the building. It is the oldest locally owned business in Auglaize County, Ohio. This makes the Wintzer Company very important to local history. The building has been used as a factory by six generations of the Wintzer family. This long history makes it very important to Wapakoneta and the surrounding area.
