TheBarr Hotel is a historichotel on the eastern side of downtownLima,Ohio,United States. Built in 1914, theNeoclassical hotel occupies the northeastern corner of the intersection of High and Union Streets.[1]
Barr Hotel | |
 The smaller of the two buildings of the Barr Hotel | |
   | |
| Location | 201-209 E. High and 200-218 N. Union Sts.,Lima,Ohio |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°44′16″N84°6′11″W / 40.73778°N 84.10306°W /40.73778; -84.10306 |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1914; 111 years ago (1914) |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| NRHP reference No. | 86001053[1] |
| Added to NRHP | May 15, 1986 |
Architecture
editThe primary portion of the hotel is a brick building, sevenstories tall;[2] it rests on a concretefoundation[3] and is covered by a flat roof.[2] Next to this portion is a connected building, four stories high and also built of brick.[3] Largesash windows andIonic-cappedpilasters are among the most distinctive elements of the primary portion of the hotel.[2]
Historical context
editDuring the early twentieth century, Lima experienced rapid growth as a result of its place as a hub forStandard Oil and as the home of theLima Locomotive Works. Many large buildings were erected in the city's downtown, including the still-standingHotel Argonne and theOhio Theatre.[4]: 5 The Barr Hotel is a typical building of this period.[2] Officially opened in October 1916, the original proprietors of the hotel were the physician, Dr. Eugene Jacob Barr and his attorney son,Ortha Orrie Barr Sr., who was later elected to theOhio House of Representatives between 1931 and 1935.[5] In 1956, businessman, C. O. Porter assumed ownership of the hotel.[5]
Recognition
editIn 1986, the Barr Hotel was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places because of its significance in overall American history. As a little-altered example of Lima's golden years,[2] the hotel was significant partially because of the unusually frequent destruction of historic buildings in Lima since the early twentieth century.[4]: 3
Contemporary use
editThe entire building was refurbished in 1994 and became an apartment complex with modern fixtures and state-of-the-art amenities.[6] The building, now calledThe Barr Apartments, was bought in spring 2010 by real estate investors, Michael and Barbara O'Connor, co-owners of the company,O'Connor Investment Properties.[6] Tenants in the building are professionals working in the downtown Lima area as well as local university students.[6]
References
edit- ^ab"National Register Information System".National Register of Historic Places.National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^abcdeOwen, Lorrie K., ed.Dictionary of Ohio Historic Places. Vol. 1.St. Clair Shores: Somerset, 1999, 9.
- ^abBarr Hotel,Ohio Historical Society, 2007. Accessed 2010-05-13.
- ^abHopkins, Phyllis G.National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Lima Multiple Resource Area.National Park Service, 1980-05-15. Accessed 2010-04-24.
- ^abOsterdahl, Andy (October 26, 2013)."The Strangest Names In American Political History : Ortha Orrie Barr Sr. (1879-1958), Ortha Orrie Barr Jr. (1922-2003)".The Strangest Names In American Political History. RetrievedJuly 29, 2020.
- ^abc"The Barr Apartments :: Home Page".www.barrapts.com.Archived from the original on December 20, 2019. RetrievedJuly 29, 2020.