Nomination for Tallmadge Town Square Historic District

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form 10-300 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM (Type all entries - complete applicable sections) AND/ OR HISTORIC: (Check One) In Process X Restricted - Preservation work - Transportation - Comments OWNER'S NAME: COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC: DATE OF SURVEY: 1934 X Federal - Local 039 153 Washington Religious STATE CLASSIFICATION ACCESSIBLE Private Commercial Site County CATEGORY Educational LOCATION OWNERSHIP Summit Historic American Buildings Survey DATE Military Government Both Park District Unoccupied STATUS Tallmadge Museum Entertainment Ohio Yes: Private Residence Building Scientific City of Tallmadge and Tallmadge Congregational Church CODE NAME Agricultural Public Structure COMMON: Library of Congress Public Square Public Acquisition: Industrial Being Considered Object LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION ENTRY NUMBER TO THE PUBLIC OWNER OF PROPERTY NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS: None known to exist - Proprietory Grant STREET AND NUMBER: CITY OR TOWN: TITLE OF SURVEY: FOR NPS USE ONLY Other 15.39.0007 (July 1969) PRESENT USE (Check One or More as Appropriate) DESCRIPTION X Good - Ruins - Unexposed - Unaltered - Moved [X Original Site DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (if known) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

The church building is Connecticut-type Federal, with its typically frame, structure is the 100 ft. high steeple, topped by a weathervane. The steeple 1910: new hardwood floor laid; stained glass windows added 1925: stained glass windows replaced for type similar to original of clear The town hall and academy, now abandoned for these purposes, is a 1859 Greek two-story high pilasters, the distinctive architectural features of the CONDITION Excellent Deteriorated glass; green blinds reinstalled. by four large columns adorns the facade.The dominant feature of the The Tallmadge Historical Area is composed of an oval green originally Memorial; the latter a local history museum. have reduced the size to about 3 acres. the steeple is in poor condition.

1860's: heating system installed replacing individual stoves; Inside, many changes have occurred from the original which featured box Connecticut.The building measures forty feet wide by fifty-six feet long linking the farthest points of the township to the centrally located village the basic structure is essentially sound. is believed to have been inspired by the old Central Church of New Haven, over the years included: 1888:addition placed on north end to accommodate organ; The Public Square and plan of the entire township (Town 2,Range 1o) was Both the church and town hall have been abandoned for their original pur (Check One) 1849: pulpit moved from south to north end, box pews replaced; the years, and has been re-partitioned extensively for use as offices, pews, and a winding staircase to a wine glass pulpit. Interior alterations academy, and high school.

While basic elements of interior, simple trim ing is in poor repair. Dry rot has taken its toll of exterior trim, but Eight roads excluding the more recent addition.Three large doors welcome worshippers. buildings: The First Congregational Church and the Town Hall. white painted clapboard construction. A high, classic portico supported The present condition of the church is fair, exterior trim has deteriorated, meeting house. The square was originally 7 acres.Highway incursions designated as the Public Square,"and originally in that shape; and two center were designed in the form of spokes of a wheel running to the hub.

structure.The interior of the town hall has been remodeled many times over laid out in unique form about Q8o7 by the Reverend David Bacon.E The avowed purpose of this design was for all township roads to lead to the PERIOD (Check One or More as Appropriate) Pre-Columbian | X) 19th Century SPECIFIC DATE(S) (I1 Applicable and Known) * Political - Historic STATEMENT OF

Statement of significance

political-commercial idea of the Reverend David Bacon, a self-ordained minister, who in 1809 came to the wilderness area and devised the ship, although he had left the fledgling community in 1812 because in Ohio, are among the best of the Federal style in the state. The 1955 issue of LIFE magazine. Congressman, Chief Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court, and territorial classic lines, completes the historical representation of the proximity and intertwining of church, state, and education in the old Connecticut 1809-1859 Conservation Commerce Engineering Communications Theater Transportation losophy itarian Science SIGNIFICANCE Literature Architecture Landscape Western Reserve. Education Music The town hall is less distinguished architecturally and historically.

Agriculture period; and the close relationship of church and state among Congregation Aboriginal Industry commercial district of crass, modern buildings. the first settlers arrived. Invention unusual township road and Square plan to conform to his radical religious Social/Human- on the Square in proximity to the church, its simple but distinguished plantation of New England architectural styles in governmental and Sculpture The Public Square of Tallmadge and its two original structures are the alists who were the first and principal settlers of the Connecticut best examples in the Western Reserve of Ohio to illustrate the trans- religious structures to that area of Ohio during the early settlement beliefs for a self-contained"Commonwealth"which would be governed only imposing edifice towering over all forms of human activity in the town- Ohio architect-builder from Waterbury, Conn.

whose works, many remaining The Square with its eight highways leading to it was the religious- Religion/Phi church was completed in 1825 and is regarded to this day asa superlative The church was the first permanent fulfillment of Bacon's dream of an example of its type.A color picture of it appeared on the unique to Ohio and rare in the nation, and were first used in 1809when AREAs OF SIGNIFICANCE (Check One or More as Appropriate) - Urban Planning The church was the design of Lemuel Porter, pioneer Military by the Congregational clergy and laymen.The town and road plan are missionary efforts. The most famous instructor at the Academy was Sidney Edgerton who became governor of Montana by appointment of President Lincoln.Its location Western Reserve.It is the only central community green space in a Art 9.

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES A Brief History Of the First Congregational Church of Tallmadge, Ohio, Men's Fellowship, 1940. Historical Pageant, Centennial Celebration, Tallmadge Meeting House, 1925. The Congregationalist, CVII, #8, 1922. Archives, First Congregational Church, Tallmadge. DEFINING THE CENTER POINT OF A PROPERTY DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY OF LESS THAN TEN ACRES APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES FORM PREPARED BY Daniel R. Porter, Director 12.

STATE LIAISON OFFICER CERTIFICATION NATIONAL REGISTER VERIFICATION As the designated State Liaison Officer for the Na- I hereby certify that this property is included in the tional Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service. The recommended Chief, Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation level of significance of this nomination is: Local O MAY FEB 24 1971 039 1971 Degrees DATE LATITUDE LONGITUDE Seconds Columbus ORGANIZATION Minutes STATE Name ATTEST: Ohio Historical Society CORNER COUNTY CODE Ohio Degrees Minutes Seconds Ohio Historical Center LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES National Register.

STREET AND NUMBER: NAME AND TITLE: CITY OR TOWN: eeper of The National Register 70ct.1970 National Title ASST. KEEPER LOGGED ENTRY ARCHITECT HISTORIAN WORKING NUMBER RESUBMIT Card MAP HABS, 193%. Summit DATE OF Federal Register Entry Annual Edition Entry REVIEW MAP DESCRIPTION (S) 71,5.39.0007 CHIEF,OARP 115/21 Chuuchtoun ENPS Number- PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER 71-5-39-0002 Title: Form 10-301 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (July 1969) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FOR NPS USE ONLY STREET AND NUM BER: U. S. G. S. Akron East Quad, Ohio TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. Property broundaries where required. 2. North arrow. 3. Latitude and longitude reference.

039 153 1967 NAME STATE Tallmadge COUNTY REQUIREMENTS CODE COMMON: Ohio SOURCE: PROPERTY MAP FORM MAP REFERENCE Public Square LOCATION NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES ENTRY NUMBER AND/OR HISTORIC: (Type all entries -attach to or enclose with map) CITY OR TOWN: Summit DATE SCALE: 1:24,000 11.539.0067 UNITED STATE: DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR GEOLOGICAL SURVEY AKRON EAST, OHIO AKRON EAST QUADRANGLE October 20, 1970 Dr. William J. Murtagh, Keeper 801 19th St., N. W. Washington, D. C. 20006 Huffman Field, Greene County, Ohio Towers Hall, Westerville, Franklin County, Ohio 27 Toledo (Lucas County) buildings and districts and approved by the Ohio Historic Site Preservation Board, and its history consultant, William G. Keener, on October 9, 1970. Daniel R.

Porter Enclosures - 30 w/attachments DRP/pd Director Transmitted herewith are 30 National Register application forms: Tallmadge Historical Area, Summit County, Ohio Dear Bill: National Register Sincerely, National Park Service This will certify that all the above applications were reviewed The Toiedo nominations are partial results of Project #39-7l-00002, a$2,500 grant from The U.S.Department of Interior to survey Interstate 7I and I7th Avenue io historical society/ ohio historical center/columbus, ohio 432l/telephone (614) 469-4663 nominated are in possible jeopardy from future highway projects. this municipal area. A number of districts and buildings Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation MAY 1 0 1971 PDHerrick imm MAY 6 Washington, D. C. Hon. Clarence J. Brow 4/19/71 House of Representatives Ohio 43210 Hon. Thomas L. Ashley United state Senate Hon. John F.

Seiberling Tallmadge Town Director, Northeast Region Also notified: Boa.Robert Taft, Jz. Oxford, ohio Toledo, Ohio Tallnadge, Ohio Greene County Butler County Lucas County Properties added to the National Register of Historic Places Fisher Hall Successful Sales Company Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio MAY 10 Mx- Daniel R. Porter appropriate Representatives are being inforned. A leaflet explaining the National Register is enclosed for each of the property owners. MAY 6 4/19/71 PDHerrick:mm carbon copy of the Congressional correspondence. (Signea) Entered in the National Register The Ohio Historical Society Sincerely yours, We are pleased to inform you that the historic properties listed on the enclosare have been placed on the Hational Register of Historic Director BASIC FILE RETAINED IN HR Enolosures Dear Nr.

Porter: Please withhold any publicity on this until you have received a Oxford, Ohio Toledo, Ohio Tallmadge, Ohio Butler County Greene County Lucas County Properties added to the National Register of Historic Places Successful Sales Company Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio Fisher Hall Huffman Pield ORIO 2. (Reserved for use by State central information reception agency) 1. STATE APPLICATION IDENTIFIER SAI 2-6-27 3. GRANTOR: a. Federal agency b. Organizational unit c. Administering office-(1) Name (2) Address- Street or P.O. Box 4. FEDERAL AGENCY GRANT IDENTIFIER: Development, Phase II c. Purpose support carriage; paint exterior of church. 5. GRANTEE: Thomas H. Smith, Director, The Ohio Historical Society b. Inter- c. County e. School ( f. Special g. Community h. Sponsored i. Other 7. APPLICATION RECEIPT DATE 8. ACTION DATE 9. EFFECTIVE STARTING DATE 10. ENDING DATE b.

Continuation (2) Supplemental d. Change in existing grant (3) Cancellation (4) Increase!s! (5) Decrease(S) 12. AMOUNT OF CONTRIBUTION a. Federal - (1) bosic d. Other $ 25,000 13. CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE b. Supplemental Program Number PROGRAM (if none, clarify in item 16) 14. AUTHORIZATION a. Federal Budget Accounts b. Public Laws c. U.S. Code 15. FACILITY LOCATION: (For facility grant actions only) a. City Town Square, Tallmadge b. County 16. REMARKS Prepared by Ralph E. Thomas 523(139)-5054 June 1970 Bureau of the 665 20240 15.904 43211 470 39-74-00034-00 240-101 Washington Sec.

Summit Day Month Columbus Title Department of the Interior *Ohio Historical Society This Year Tallmadge Congregational Church State Memorial 10-58-1040-0-1-405 STANDARD FORM 240 NOTIFICATION OF GRANT-IN-AID ACTION Ohio City Tallmadge Town Square Historic District: National Park Service oction Division of Grants duration district orgonization doors;repair windows;replace shutters;replace wood shingle roof;rebuild bell $28,756* gront Budget Circular A-98 (identify agency in item 16) Interstate 7lat17th Avenue 16 U.S.C. Yeor Zip Code unit 6.GRANTEe TYPE(Check only the single most applicable box) State a. Code a. Name 11. TYPE OF ACTION (Check as many bozes as apply to this action) a. New (1) Increase in (2) Decrease in c. Local Do Not 18th and C Streets, NW. durotion 0.Progran Number Stote Use TALLMADGE TOWN SQUARE HISTORIC DISTRICT: CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH (39-72-00016-00).

Tallmadge, Summit Co. State ownership. Excellent example of the trans- planting of New England architecture, an impor- tant element in the Tallmadge Town Square Historic District. Research; restoration of steeple, foundation and interior; removal of addi- tion. $20,000.00.