The Lovell factory, founded in 1881, is a large complex of eleven brick buildings ranging in height from one to four stories and ornamented with shallow segmental- and round-arched windows and corbeling at the cornice lines. Occupying an entire city block, the complex is the largest and most architecturally intact former foundry and machine shop facility in Erie. It is within easy access of the former New York Central Railroad line, and, at the same time, is integrated into the surrounding residential area, allowing workers to reach the factory on foot. A tall smokestack punctuates the southwestern corner.

Lovell manufactured everything metal, from mousetraps to computer shells, continuing when it became a subsidiary of Paterson-Erie in 1967. The complex was left vacant between 1974 and 1980, but since then a group of small industrial firms has leased space in the buildings. These continue to function for a variety of manufacturing purposes, reflecting the essence of Erie as an adaptable skilled manufacturing city.