Main Street Seneca KS.

The Seneca Main Street central business district is located on Main Street from First to Seventh Streets. Before the improvement of U. S. Highway 36 to the north in the late 1930s, traffic moved through the business district. The main railroad line parallels Main Street one block south on a right-of-way originally platted as Baltimore Street.

The Seneca Main Street Historic District includes most of the commercial buildings in the business district which are concentrated on Main Street between Third and Sixth Streets (see attached map for exact boundaries.) Generally, the north and south boundaries of the district extend to the alleys behind Main Street, but include one building on North Fourth and one on North Sixth Street just north of the alley. The east boundary is defined by a change in the character of the buildings on Main Street to twentieth century commercial and residential buildings east of Third Street. Also, the west boundary of the historic district is defined by a change to scattered modern commercial buildings and residences. The business district is located on a generally level area. There is diagonal parking along the brick paved street with concrete sidewalks. Most of the extant buildings have identical setbacks with the building front extending to the sidewalk. Brick is the primary building material with some stone, concrete, and concrete block. Generally, buildings are one and two stories tall. Several larger and more elaborate historic buildings anchor the ends of blocks with smaller one and two-story buildings in the center of the blocks.

Most of the buildings in the district are two-part and one-part commercial blocks. As defined by Richard Longstreth, the two-part commercial block is the "most common type of composition used for small and moderate-sized commercial buildings throughout the country."[1] These buildings feature a distinction between the storefront level and an upper zone. Most storefronts have symmetrically arranged facades with large display windows flanking a recessed entry. Second story windows are usually smaller and narrower than those on the first floor. The one-part commercial block has only a single story which is similar to the lower zone of the two-part commercial block. These commercial buildings generally have low-sloping or flat roofs behind raised parapets.

The buildings in the district represent three main architectural classifications: Late Victorian, Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals, and Early 20th Century American Movements--Commercial Style. These styles reflect the stages of Seneca's development from the permanent building boom of the 1880s and 1890s into the first decades of the twentieth century. The district includes twenty-eight buildings that were constructed before 1901 and twenty-one buildings constructed between 1901 and 1950. Seven buildings in the district were constructed after 1945. Also, the circa 1919 brick streets (listed as a structure) are a significant part of the district.

The extant architectural styles of the Seneca Main Street Historic District are:

Within the Seneca Main Street district, only the Post Office is already listed on the National Register. Including the Post Office, there are fifty-seven resources in the district. Significant architectural character is still evident representing the commercial and architectural development of Seneca's historic business district. There are forty-one contributing and fifteen non-contributing buildings. Of the non-contributing buildings, four were constructed during the period of significance. Some historic buildings in the district have been demolished and replaced. The result is some modern infill construction distinguished by contemporary architectural styles and materials. However, more than 70% of the buildings in the district have substantial architectural integrity and represent the significant historical periods and associations.

Buildings evaluated as contributing usually have undergone alterations over time. Many of the alterations reflect changes common to historic commercial buildings as storefronts and facades were modernized with contemporary materials and signs. Some of the alterations detract from or obscure the historic architectural character of certain buildings. However, many of these alterations are reversible. Rehabilitation of these buildings might change their evaluation and eligibility for rehabilitation tax credits. Acceptable alterations include: windows which are covered but retain the original openings and recessions; additions which are obviously secondary to the main block; alterations to non-street-facing elevations; and storefront alterations provided that the transom outlines and other major architectural divisions are evident.

The following inventory list of buildings includes the address, construction and alteration dates in parenthesis, and historic name if documented. Also, there is a brief description of each building with architectural style, if evident.

The Royal Theater was constructed in 1927 on the site of an opera house block dating back to circa 1885. This is a rectangular two-story brick Commercial style building with a barrel roof. The building has a three-bay front with recessed panels, central and side entrances, and a projecting theater marquee. The mezzanine and second floor has 3/1 wooden double-hung windows. The rear wing has a steep gable roof. The shaped brick parapet, raised brick piers and other features of this two-part commercial block are characteristic of early twentieth century commercial style architecture. The first floor storefront has been altered with a modern glass entry, windows and wood sheathing. Central mezzanine windows have been covered with plywood.

This is a rectangular one-story brick Commercial style building with a three-bay front and central entrance. The red brick façade has an ornamental stone parapet and transom trim, a parapet with a raised central gable and a rectangular stone plaque surmounting the entrance. There is a flat roof and parapet. The storefront has been altered with a modern metal entrance door flanked by four-part storefront windows. The storefront transom has been covered.

This is a rectangular one-story tile Commercial style building with a flat roof and parapet. The building has a three-bay front with central entrance flanked by display windows. The façade had ornamental recessed brick panels and a parapet with raised central gable. The storefront has been altered with modern paired metal entrance doors, covered sidelights, and modern two-part display windows. The storefront has been purged with concrete stucco.

This is a rectangular one-story brick Commercial style building with a flat roof and parapet. The building has a three-part storefront with a central entrance flanked by display windows. There is an ornamental red brick front with a stone belt course. The façade has a central plaque surmounting the entrance, ornamental tan brick grids, and a shaped parapet with stone cap and a raised central gable. Alterations include modern paired metal entrance doors and sidelights, modern display windows, and a metal-covered transom.

This is a rectangular one-story brick Commercial style building with a flat roof and parapet. The building has a three-part front with a central entrance flanked by paired display windows and an ornamental glass transom. The facade has an ornamental stone base and ornamental raised brick end piers and eave cornice detailing. There is a rectangular horizontal plaque surmounting the entrance and a stone parapet cap. Alterations include modern metal entrance doors and sidelights.

This is rectangular one-story brick Commercial style building with a flat roof and parapet. The building has a two-part front with a side entrance and a two-part display window. The façade is defined by raised brick piers and a smooth-cut parapet cap. There is a wooden glazed entrance door with the original transom covered.

This is a rectangular one-story brick Italianate style building with a flat roof and parapet. The ornamental cast iron storefront has a side entrance and elaborate ornamental metal eave cornice with a central pediment. Alterations include a modern metal entrance door and modern horizontal windows set in brick infill. The storefront transom has been covered with corrugated metal.

This is a rectangular two-story brick Italianate style commercial block with a flat roof and parapet. There is a one-story rear wing. There is an ornamental cast iron double storefront with a recessed central second floor stair and entrance flanked by central storefront entrances. The storefronts have paired glazed wooden entrance doors flanked by display windows surmounted by a projecting storefront cornice. The second floor front and west side windows have 1/1 wooden double-hung sash. Windows have ornamental cast iron Italianate hoods. In the front façade there is a projecting metal eave cornice with brackets and a central raised brick gable in the parapet surmounting the second floor entrance. Alterations include storefront transoms covered with plywood and modern vents installed above storefront entrances. In the west façade, the first floor openings have been filled with brick. Also, there is a one-story rear addition.

This is a detached rectangular one-story brick and concrete block Commercial style building with a double storefront. The building has a flat roof and parapet. Each storefront has three bays defined by raised brick piers. The south storefront has a central entrance flanked by two-part display windows surmounted by a two-part transom. The entrance has a glazed paneled wooden door with by a glass block transom. The north storefront has a central overhead glazed garage entrance door and a single display window. Alterations in the north bay include a modern metal entrance door set in a modern wood frame wall with a single rectangular window.

This is a rectangular one-story brick masonry and concrete block commercial block at the corner of a row. The building has a flat roof and parapet. There is a three-bay storefront with a central entrance flanked by metal display windows and sheltered by a projecting flat metal awning.

This is a rectangular one-story brick commercial building in a row. It has a flat roof and parapet. The modern brick storefront has three bays with a central entrance. The storefront has a modern wood frame hipped awning covered with shingles. Originally, this was a two-story building. Most of the second story was removed in 1959 after two adjacent buildings collapsed and damaged the upper story of this building.

This is a rectangular two-story wood-frame commercial building in a row with a flat roof and parapet. The storefront has a side entrance and paired display windows. The storefront is sheathed with glass panels on the first floor. The second floor is sheathed with weatherboard. On the second floor, there are three 1/1 double-hung windows with ornamental window hoods. Alterations include a modern glazed entrance door and transom and a modern hipped wood frame and shingle awning.

This is a rectangular two-story brick Renaissance Revival style commercial building in a row with a flat roof and parapet. The storefront has three bays with a recessed central entrance and glazed wooden entrance door flanked by large display windows flanking entrance. The second floor façade has ornamental raised brick quoins, flat brick arches, and slightly projecting paneled and corbelled brick detailing at the eave. Alterations include a storefront transom and second floor covered with plywood.

This is a rectangular one-and-a-half story brick Renaissance Revival style commercial building in a row with a flat roof and parapet. The storefront has four bays with a central entrance flanked by large display windows. The upper storefront has ornamental tan brick quoins and a raised central brick panel with ornamental piers, a corbelled brick eave cornice and stone parapet cap. There is a central wooden attic window surmounted with an ornamental flat arch and a metal plaque embossed with the name, Snyder, and the date, 1908. Alterations include a side entrance bay covered with plywood, storefront bulkheads covered with plywood, a modern glazed metal entrance door, and a modern wood frame and shingle shed awning.

This is a rectangular one-story brick Romanesque style commercial building with a flat roof and parapet in a row. The storefront has two bays with a side entrance and a two-part display window. The façade has ornamental stone base blocks, a terra cotta frieze panel surmounting storefront, brick eave detailing with raised semicircular end piers, recessed brick niches, a projecting corbelled brick gable feature with a stone belt course and stone parapet cap. Alterations include a modern glazed metal entrance door with a cloth awning.

This is a rectangular two-story brick Romanesque style commercial building with a flat roof and parapet in a row. The storefront has four bays supported on ornamental cast iron posts with a central and side entrance and two display windows. The façade has four ornamental brick panels surmounting the storefront and a stone belt course under the second story windows. The second floor windows have 2/2 wooden double-hung sash. There are semicircular brick arches and stone end blocks above the windows and raised brick eave detailing with a central date plaque (1888). Alterations include a recessed modern glazed metal entrance door with transom and a modern cloth awning. The storefront transoms are covered with wooden lattice.

This is a rectangular two-story brick commercial building in a row with a flat roof and parapet. The front is a smooth-cut stone Art Deco style façade. The façade has a three-bay front with two side entrances. There is an enframed three -part window wall with 1/1 wooden double-hung windows centered in the façade and flanked by second floor windows. The two glazed wooden entrance doors are surmounted by transoms. The façade has ornamental vertical grooved stone detailing above the entrances and accentuating the window wall. There is a three-part wooden panel with chevron ornament in the window wall between the first and second story. There is corbelled horizontal detailing above the second floor windows and an irregular ornamental stone parapet cap.

This is a modern rectangular one-story brick and concrete block commercial building with a flat roof and parapet. The building has a main three-bay storefront with an additional side storefront bay west and a taller bay to the east. The main storefront has paired central metal entrance doors flanked by metal display windows surmounted by a projecting flat metal awning.

This is a rectangular two-story Richardsonian Romanesque style brick commercial block with a flat roof and parapet at the end of a row. The building has a raised basement. The asymmetrical façade has a recessed side entrance and prominent corner circular tower. There are large and small round-arched first floor front windows. In the corner tower and on the second floor, the windows have 1/1 double-hung wooden sash. The main entrance door is wood. The elaborate ornamentation includes rough-cut stone lintels and round arched openings, multi-paned round-arched window transoms, a projecting central window bay on the second floor outlined with raised brick piers, a terra cotta panel and raised gable with multi-colored brick ornament, and stone eave detailing. Four pinnacles on raised brick piers crown the parapet. There is a metal eave cornice on the front and side facades. The corner tower is surmounted by a conical roof covered with wood shingles and an ornamental spire. Alterations include modern aluminum storm windows. The first floor front windows have been partially filled and the side windows have been covered with wood shake shingles.

This is a rectangular two-story brick commercial building with a flat roof and parapet at the end of a row. There is a rear wing or addition facing Fifth Street. The main south façade is Commercial style and the east façade has Italianate detailing. The original block was constructed about 1885 and the front was remodeled about 1939. The building has a three-bay front with a recessed central entrance flanked by display windows. There are two rear entrances in the side façade. The second floor front has 1/1 wooden double-hung windows. The rear wing has an ornamental second floor projecting oriel window. Ornamentation includes a front storefront cornice, raised brick panel and eave detailing. The side façade has projecting round-arched Italianate window hoods and raised brick eave cornice detailing. Alterations include a modern metal entrance door and a modern flat metal awning. The storefront transom and side windows have been covered. Openings in the rear wing have been filled with wood shake shingles.

This is a one-story double-front commercial block in a row with a flat roof and parapet. The brick front has recessed paired central entrance doors flanked by display windows. There is a modern full-length cloth awning.

This is a one-story brick commercial block in a row with a flat roof, brick end piers and a central parapet between raised piers. The storefront has been altered with a side entrance and three casement windows set in a wood frame and plywood front. The upper façade has a wood shingled awning with three projecting wood vent dormers.

This is a rectangular two-story brick Romanesque style commercial building with a flat roof and parapet in a row. The storefront has two bays with a recessed side entrance. There are first floor display window and a multi-paned transom. There is an ornamental cast iron post supporting the storefront lintel, stone pier caps, second floor stone sills and round-arched window lintels. The second floor openings are accentuated by stone ornament in three raised brick piers. There is a stone parapet cap and elaborate corbelled brick eave detailing. Alterations include a modern metal storefront awning and white metal storm doors. The second floor window openings have been altered. There is one large fixed and one 1/1double-hung sash.

This is the east half of a rectangular two-story brick commercial block in a row with similar Italianate style detailing. The building has a flat roof and parapet. This storefront has four bays with a central entrance flanked by display windows and a side entrance to the west. On the second floor, there are 1/1 wooden double-hung windows. The main entrance has paired glazed wooden doors and the side entrance has a paneled wooden door. Ornamentation includes cast iron storefront posts and cornice, stone pier bases, stone window sills and hoods on the second floor and a corbelled brick eave cornice. Alterations include display windows partially covered with wood shingle awnings and an eave cornice covered with corrugated metal.

This is the west half of a rectangular two-story brick commercial block in a row with similar Italianate style detailing. The building has a flat roof and parapet. The building has a three-bay storefront with a recessed entrance flanked by display windows. The storefront is surmounted with four second floor windows. Ornamentation includes cast iron storefront posts and stone sills and window hoods on the second floor. Alterations include a modern metal entrance door, bulkheads covered with plywood, a storefront transom covered with corrugated metal and shingles, and an eave cornice covered with corrugated metal. The second floor window openings have been partially filled and modern double-hung windows installed.

This is a rectangular one-story brick Romanesque style commercial building with a flat roof and parapet in a row. The storefront has four bays with a recessed central entrance flanked by display windows. Storefront ornamentation includes projecting brick piers as well as an elaborate pressed metal eave cornice with brackets, dentil molding and a raised central gable with the Burnett name in the cornice. Alterations include a modern metal entrance door and sidelight, art glass bulkheads, and a closed side entrance. The storefront transom has been covered with corrugated metal.

This is a rectangular one-story brick Romanesque style commercial building with a flat roof and parapet in a row. The storefront has a three-bay front with a recessed central entrance flanked by display windows. Ornamentation includes cast iron storefront posts, raised brick piers above the storefront and an elaborate pressed metal eave cornice with brackets and a central raised gable with the date 1895 in an ornamental panel. Alterations include a modern metal entrance door and sidelight and modern cloth awnings. The storefront transom has been covered with plywood.

This is a rectangular one-story brick Commercial style store building with a flat roof and parapet in a row. The storefront has a three-bay front with a central entrance. Ornamentation above the storefront includes raised brick panels and brick piers, a central stone plaque in the raised central parapet, and a stone parapet cap. Alterations include a modern metal storefront with a central entrance door flanked by paired display windows and covered transoms. The central plaque may be related to the building's use as the Seneca Post Office before 1939.

The City Hall is a two-story Beaux Arts style institutional building with a flat roof and parapet at the end of a row. The building is constructed of brick and hollow clay tile masonry in an ell form. There is a three-bay symmetrical front with three recessed entrances. Both the front and side facades have paired 1/1 wooden double-hung windows. There are four glazed wooden entrance doors. Ornamentation includes central round-arched openings to the south and west with ornamental brick surrounds. Both facades have a belt course and round-arched raised brick second floor openings with stone keystones, a projecting eave cornice, and smooth-cut parapet cap. The front has a central recessed panel with stone plaque. Alterations include a modern one-story brick and block rear addition with a large garage door opening facing west. In front there is a concrete ramp and metal railing providing access to the main entrance. The northwest entrances have been filled with modern metal windows and panels.

The Masonic Temple is a detached Classical Revival style institutional building facing Sixth Street to the west. The building has a rectangular form with side bays projecting north and south. This is a one-story stucco building on a raised brick basement. The building has a three-bay front with a monumental central entrance flanked by small ornamented leaded glass windows and 1/1 wooden double hung windows with ornamented leaded glass. The basement has small hatch windows. There are paired ornamental wooden entrance doors with leaded glass glazed panels. Other ornamentation includes the pedimented entrance portico on four columns with the name Masonic Temple set in metal letters in the frieze. The entrance has concrete steps with flanking brick piers. The north and south façades have a central recessed panel with paired flat columns flanking small window. Generally, the building has good architectural integrity except for the modern corrugated metal gable roof.

This is a modern detached rectangular one-story institutional building constructed of concrete block masonry with brick trim. The building has a gable roof. There is a three-bay front with a central entrance flanked by sidelights and large fixed windows. The entrance door, sidelights, and windows are framed with metal.

The Post Office is a detached brick Classical Revival style institutional building. The building is one story with a raised basement. It has an ell plan with the main block oriented east and west. The building has a five-bay front with a central entrance flanked by paired windows. There is a hipped roof covered with standing seam metal roofing and surmounted with a central glazed wooden cupola. There are 8/8 paired windows and paired metal entrance doors surmounted with a multi-paned transom. Ornamentation includes the fluted entrance door surround, smooth-cut stone flat window lintels, and a smooth-cut belt course. The name United States Post Office and Seneca, Kansas are spelled out in metal letters fastened to the brick façade.

This is a detached rectangular one-story brick and concrete block Commercial style building with a flat roof and parapet. The building has a three-bay paneled front. Ornamentation includes raised brick piers, brick panels, a raised brick storefront molding and corbelled brick eave detailing. Alterations include the modern metal entrance door in the central bay and large two-part display windows in each bay.

This is a rectangular one-story concrete block commercial building with a flat roof and parapet in a row. The building has a two-bay front with a side entrance and large two-part display windows. The storefront has been stuccoed. Alterations include a modern 15-light entrance door and transoms that have been covered with plywood.

This is a rectangular two-story brick Romanesque style building with a flat roof and parapet in a row. The front façade has a two-bay front with a side entrance. Ornamentation includes a smooth-cut stone belt course between the first and second floors, raised grooved brick end piers, rough-cut stone round-arched second floor lintels, ornamental brick panels, corbelled and pierced brick eave detailing, rough-cut stone belt courses, and a raised gable parapet surmounting the entrance bay. The first floor storefront and the second floor windows have been modernized. There is a modern entrance door and a large display window. The storefront transom has been covered with board and batten. Modern second floor windows are set in openings infilled with brick masonry.

This is a modern rectangular block brick and concrete block one-story commercial building with a flat roof and parapet in a row. There is a double storefront with two central entrances. Each entrance door is flanked by four casement windows. There is a shed awning covered with wood shingles.

This is a rectangular one-story brick Commercial style building with a flat roof and parapet in a row. There is a double storefront. Each has three bays with a side entrance flanked by two-part display windows. There is a glazed wooden entrance door to the west. The fronts are defined by raised brick piers and there is a smooth-cut stone parapet cap. Alterations include a modern glazed metal entrance door to the east and storefront transoms covered with plywood.

This is a rectangular one-story brick Commercial style building with a flat roof and parapet at the end of a row. The building has a two-bay front set back from the street. Ornamentation includes exposed steel storefront lintels, raised brick panels above the windows, raised brick piers and a projecting stone parapet cap. The former garage entrance has been filled with plywood and a sliding modern metal door. The entrance door has been altered. In the west side façade, the transoms have been filled with plywood and some modern windows have been installed in reduced openings.

This is a rectangular two-story brick Romanesque style commercial block with a flat roof and parapet at the corner of a row. The building has a four-bay front with an additional storefront bay in the east façade. There are central and side entrances. Ornamentation includes cast iron posts supporting the storefront, a belt course under the second floor windows, round-arched and flat arched lintels decorated with molded brick, ornamental brick paneling, corbelled and recessed eave brick detailing with rough-cut stone parapet cap, and a corner pyramidal cupola surmounted with a metal crest. On the second floor, there are 1/1 wooden double-hung windows with transoms. Alterations include modern brick bulkheads, transoms covered with plywood, and the alteration of some second floor windows.

This is a rectangular two-story brick Italianate style commercial building with a flat roof and parapet in a row. The building has seven bays comprising a double storefront with a central entrance to the second floor. The storefronts have recessed entrances flanked by display windows. The second floor windows are 1/1 wooden double-hung sash. The ornamentation includes cast iron posts and a storefront lintel. The second floor windows have projecting stone window sills and round-arched window hoods with an ornamental keystone. There are projecting brick corner quoins on the second floor and an ornamental recessed paneled brick cornice. Alterations include modern glazed metal entrance doors and a solid paneled second floor door. Storefront transoms have been covered with wood shingles.

This is a rectangular two-story brick commercial building with a flat roof and parapet in a row. The building has a three-bay storefront with a central entrance flanked by display windows. The storefront has brick bulkheads and two-part windows surmounted by a multi-paned transom. Ornamentation includes brick end piers with ornamental rough-cut stone bases and accent blocks. Alterations include a modern metal entrance door and transom. The second floor façade has been rebuilt with modern brick masonry and two fixed 12-light windows have been installed.

This is a rectangular two-story brick commercial building with a flat roof and parapet in a row. The building has a three-bay storefront with a central entrance flanked by display windows. On the second floor, there are two paired wooden double-hung windows. Ornamentation includes a smooth-cut belt course above the second floor windows and parapet cap. The storefront has been altered with modern brick masonry. The second floor façade has been stuccoed. There is a modern glazed metal entrance door and metal display windows.

This is a modern one-story commercial building with a brick masonry front. The building has a three-bay front with a glazed metal entrance door flanked by two display windows.

This is a rectangular two-story brick Classical Revival commercial building with a flat roof and parapet in a row. The storefront has three bay divided by two ornamental cast iron posts. The storefront has two side entrances flanking a large display window surmounted by transoms. On the second floor, two 1/1 wooden double-hung windows flank a projecting bay window with an ornamental sill, fluted side molding and hipped roof with dentil molding. The building front has tooled stone pier blocks, rough-cut accent blocks, molded brick courses ornamenting the storefront, grooved brick end piers, a rough-cut belt course and window hoods. The eave has dentil brick detailing, projecting piers, and a corbelled eave cornice.

This is a rectangular two-story brick Italianate style commercial building with a flat roof and parapet in a row. The building has a three bay storefront with a central entrance flanked by display windows. There are four second floor bays with four 1/1 wooden double-hung windows. Ornamentation includes raised brick window hoods and façade blocks. Alterations include a modern glazed metal entrance door and display windows. The storefront transom has been covered with corrugated metal and the eave cornice has been covered.

This is a rectangular one-story brick commercial building wit a flat roof and parapet in a row. The building has a three-bay storefront with a central entrance flanked by display windows. There are brick end piers with corbelled brick ornament. Alterations include a modern metal entrance door with a sidelight flanked by display windows. There is mock stone sheathing on the storefront bulkheads. The transoms have been covered. There is board and batten sheathing with a mock shed awning at the eave. According to appraisal records, this store front was remodeled in 1956.

This is a rectangular two-story brick Romanesque style commercial block with a flat roof and parapet in a row. The building has a double storefront with a central entrance to the second floor and a side entrance to the west. Ornamentation includes a rough-cut stone belt course under the second floor window sills, two projecting round brick arches above the windows with stone end blocks, a central window with flat arched lintel. The second floor is divided by projecting brick piers and there is paneled and corbelled eave brick detailing. The first floor storefront bulkheads and transom have been covered with black art glass. There is a modern glazed metal storefront entrance door flanked by metal display windows with triple display windows to the east. There is a modern metal entrance door to the second floor. The second floor window openings have been reduced and filled with 1/1 wooden double-hung sash.

This is a modern rectangular brick and concrete block one-story masonry commercial building with a flat roof and parapet at the corner of a row. The building has an asymmetrical three bay storefront. There is a projecting glazed metal entrance bay with double doors flanked by two-part display windows.

This is a modern rectangular brick one-story commercial building with a flat roof and parapet at the corner of a row. The building has a two-bay front with a corner entrance and an overhanging metal-covered eave. There is a glazed metal entrance foyer flanked by display windows.

This is a rectangular two-story brick Italianate style commercial block with a flat roof and parapet in a row. The building has an eight bay front with a recessed central entrance to the second floor and side storefront entrances. There are glazed wooden entrance doors, a four-part display window to the east and a one-part window to the west, and storefront transoms. On the second floor, there are 2/2 wooden double-hung windows. Ornamentation includes six paneled cast iron storefront posts, round arched brick second floor window openings, and a projecting pressed metal eave cornice with ornamental panels and dentil molding. Alterations include a storefront cornice covered with corrugated metal, modern metal storm doors, and reduced second floor window openings.

This is a rectangular two-story brick Romanesque style commercial block with a flat roof and parapet in a row. The building has a three-bay front with a recessed central entrance to the second floor as well as recessed side storefront entrances. There are two-part display windows on the first floor and on the second floor there are two paired and three single 1/1 wooden double-hung windows. The central entrance has a glazed wooden door. Ornamentation includes an elaborate façade with tooled stone pier blocks, rough-cut stone capitals, grooved piers, raised parapet end piers with recessed panels and tooled stone caps. The central entrance is surmounted by a date (1904) in leaded glass. There is a leaded glass transom to the west. Above the storefront, there is a molded brick belt course, two projecting second floor bay windows with elaborate pressed metal ornament and hipped roofs, a smooth-cut stone belt course below the second floor windows, and round-arched molded brick central window lintels. The central attic window has a rough-cut stone sill with a molded brick flat arch lintel. There is elaborate brick eave ornamentation with brick piers, corbelled and paneled brick eave detailing and a central raised gable with corbelled brick detail and rough-cut stone cap. Alterations include two modern glazed metal storefront entrance doors and a transom covered with plywood to the east.

This is a rectangular two-story brick Romanesque style commercial block with a flat roof and parapet in a row. The building has a four-bay storefront with a central and side entrance. There are display windows on the first floor and a round-arched 1/1 wooden double-hung central window flanked by two 1/1 wooden double-hung windows. There are paired glazed wooden central entrance doors and a single glazed wooden side entrance door. Ornamentation includes brick brick bulkheads and ornamental multi-paned transoms over the doors and the display windows. The storefront has a exposed steel beam lintel with a molded brick panel and smooth-cut stone belt course under the second floor windows. These windows are accentuated by a rough-cut stone molding, flat lintels and a round-arch above the central window. There are end pier blocks ornamented with rough-cut stone blocks, grooves, and an elaborate brick detailed eave cornice with corbelled brick. The cornice has a recessed pierced brick panel surmounted with a central gable on projecting brick piers. There is a rough-cut stone parapet cap

This is a rectangular one-story brick and concrete block Commercial style commercial building with a flat roof and parapet in a row. The building has a four-bay storefront. The two end fronts have two-part display windows and the two center fronts have one display window. These are surmounted by rectangular transoms. There are five glazed wooden entrance doors surmounted by transoms. Ornamentation includes raised brick piers dividing the storefront bays, brick panels outlined by raised brick, a shaped parapet with four raised gables. Alterations include one central storefront transom that has been covered and three metal storm doors have been installed.

This is a rectangular two-story brick Italianate style commercial building with a flat roof and parapet in a row. The storefront has four bays with central and side entrances. There are display windows in the first floor storefront and four 1/1 wooden double-hung windows on the second floor. The 15-light wooden side entrance door has an overhead transom. Ornamentation includes cast iron storefront posts, smooth-cut stone sills and projecting window hoods, and an elaborate projecting pressed metal eave cornice with brackets and molding. The storefront has been altered with modern brick bulkheads, metal display windows, a metal entrance door, sidelights, and transom. The storefront has a modern fixed shed awning covered with wooden shingles.

This is a rectangular one-story rusticated concrete block Commercial style building with a flat roof and parapet at the corner of a row. Behind the storefront facing Main Street, there are several outbuildings including a concrete block lumber shed with a monitor roof paralleling Sixth Street. The storefront has eight bays in three sections. The two end sections have a central entrance and the center section has a side entrance. The entrances are flanked by display windows. The sections to the east have three-part transoms and a section to the west has one-part transoms. There are two glazed wooden entrance doors. There is a smooth-cut parapet cap. A central entrance and two windows facing Sixth Street have been covered with plywood.

56. Seneca Universalist Church (Seneca Public Library). 606-612 Main, 1867, contributing.

This is a detached rectangular one-story stone Gothic Revival style institutional building with a steep gable roof. The building is constructed of coursed smooth-cut stone blocks. There is a three-bay front with a central entrance flanked by two round-arched stained glass windows. There is a paneled wooded entrance door. Ornamentation includes a prominent wood-frame bell tower with a steep hipped roof centered in the ridge. Also, there are round-arched raised window and entrance hoods in the front façade, a raised gable end molding, and a quatrefoil attic window in a circular opening. The bell tower has molded corners, a projecting balustrade, round-arched openings, an eave dentil molding, and roof cresting. The original church building is connected to a modern one-story stone and stucco library addition with a glazed metal arcade.

57. Brick streets. Brick paving from 3rd to 6th Street, circa 1919, contributing.

[1] Richard Longstreth, The Buildings of Main Street (Washington, DC: Preservation Press, 1987), 24.

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Ken Stallbaumer
109 N 11 St.
Seneca, Ks 66538

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