1893
The Bushnell Building was designed by Chicago and Boston architectural firm, Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge and built by Asa S. Bushnell, industrial baron and leading Springfield, Ohio citizen.
1914
Local retailers Edward A. Tehan and H.J. Fahien took over Kinnane's Dry Goods Store's lease and moved their Home Store from the nearby Fairbanks Building into the Bushnell Building.
1952
The Edward Wren Co. was bought out by the Allied Stores of New York City, which later became Macy's. Wren's merged with Block's Department Store of Indianapolis, and operated in the building until 1987.
2015
The Bushnell building was awarded the Platinum LEED Certification, by The U.S. Green building council. It is one of ten buildings in the U.S.A. on the National Historic Register to be awarded Platinum LEED Certification. The Bushnell Building is the oldest and largest of those buildings in the country.
1903
Originally designed as an office building, it housed The First national bank & U.S. Depository, Kinnane's Dry Goods Store, and the Masonic Temple. The "annex" addition was made to the west side of the building.
1928
The entire structure was converted into a department store, and the April 30 Grand Opening of the Home Store drew much attention to the Bushnell Building as "one of the showplaces of the city."
1993
The Bushnell Building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places March 2nd, 1979, but was empty by 1987. It was purchased in 1993 by James H. and Nike D. Lagos, who began the restoration process.
2020
The Bushnell Building has grown and houses many businesses across many industries. Due to the improvements made in the Bushnell Building, it is now considered a key feature of the revitalization of Downtown Springfield.
1904
Nationally known patent attorney, Harry A. Toulmin occupied Bushnell Building office space and counseled the Wright brothers, filing five patents for them that brought their flying machine to life.
1939
The Edward Wren Company acquired the Home Store and moved their existing High St. retail store into the building. "Wren's" became Springfield's largest and most successful upscale store.
1994
The Bushnell Building began very extensive construction to attract businesses and encourage them to relocate in Downtown Springfield, Ohio.
Asa S. Bushnell
1934-1904
The Bushnell Building was built by Asa S. Bushnell, an industrial baron and leading citizen of Springfield, Ohio. It was completed in three phases in 1893, 1903 and 1939 in the Beaux Arts and Second Renaissance Revival styles.
​
Bushnell was president of the Warder, Bushnell & Glessner Co., manufacturers of agricultural machinery. In 1902, the business became part of the International
Harvester Company, later known as the Navistar Corporation. Bushnell was also the founder and first President of the First National Bank & U.S. Depository that was located on the first floor on the east side of the Bushnell Building. This bank later became the First National Bank and then transitioned to BancOhio, National City Bank, and finally the PNC Bank that resides in Springfield today.
​
Bushnell later gained national recognition by being elected to two terms as governor of Ohio, serving from 1896 to 1900. The Governor and his wife, Ellen Ludlow Bushnell,
built their magnificent Richardsonian Romanesque residence at the present day address of 838 East High Street where it is currently used as a funeral home. Bushnell was also responsible for the Masonic Home, International Order of Odd Fellows Home, and Knights of Pythias Home being located in Springfield, Ohio.
Edward J. Wren
1849 - 1917
Edward Wren came from Ireland to Springfield with his wife Margaret Kinnane Wren in 1873. His earliest venture was with Kinnane, Wren and Company. In 1903 the Edward Wren Company was established and the store was located on East High Street, Mr. Wren gained a reputation
of high integrity and he built his business on that basis.
​
He was very attentive to paying his bills on time and deliberate about personally greeting customers. Those attributes endeared him within commercial and social circles. He was always there to lend a helping hand with charitable causes. He was one of the community’s most
loved and loyal citizens.
​
After his death in 1917 the family still owned and operated the business before selling it in 1920. Wren’s moved to the Bushnell Building in 1939 and the business was locally
owned and operated until 1952.
​
It was the largest and most successful upscale stores and the shopping mecca of Downtown
Springfield. After 1952, the business was bought out and continued to change hands until it closed for good in 1987.
​
Though, Edward Wren never worked in the Bushnell Building, his legacy and integrity lives on through James Lagos' work in the community.
.png)
Timeline
Wright Brothers U.S. Patents
U.S. Patent #821,393:
Applied March 23, 1903
Granted May 22, 1906
Three axis of control Flying Machine
U.S. Patent #98,762:
Applied February 17, 1908
Granted March 21, 1911
Pair of mid-mounted
vertical vanes, when
deflected, created drag
with resultant yaw of
aircraft
U.S. Patent #1,075,533
Applied February 10, 1908
Granted October 14, 1913
Automatic stabilizer:
Pendulum operated roll
and vane operated pitch
U.S. Patent #1,122,348:
Applied February 17, 1908
Granted December 29, 1914
Pair of rudders, when
deflected, resulted in the
yaw of the aircraft
U.S. Patent #908,929
Applied July 15, 1908
Granted January 5, 1909
Mechanism for flexing
the rudder
Harry A. Toulmin
1958-1942
The Bushnell Building was originally designed as an office building, which is what it has been restored to today. A number of law firms occupied the office space including that of Harry
A. Toulmin (1859-1942). Mr. Toulmin was a nationally known patent attorney. In 1904, aviation pioneer Wilbur Wright came to Springfield to seek the counsel of patent attorney Harry A. Toulmin, who maintained an office in the Bushnell Building. Toulmin was responsible for filing
the Wright Brothers’ five patents with 111 specifications for the control mechanisms of their airplane and successfully defending them all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court over a nine
year period.
​
Because of Toulmin’s work, Wilbur and Orville Wright were forever acknowledged as the inventors of the first controllable, heavier-than-air flying machines.