Hawkes Children's Library
Why it's listed
Built in 1921 on North College Street in Cedartown, this one-story brick and stone library with a basement is designed in the Georgian Revival style. A stone entrance bay with a pedimented triumphal-arch motif, paired pilasters and modillion blocks marks the front, and the rear facade has a central Palladian window. The design is attributed to the Atlanta firm Hentz, Reid and Adler, led by J. Neel Reid, although the plans are unsigned. The building was funded by a bequest from Atlanta philanthropist Albert King Hawkes, who left money for children's libraries in several Georgia towns. Cedartown residents added $18,000 to the $7,500 bequest, and the library opened on September 30, 1921, as the town's first free public library. It served as a library until recently. In 1976 it passed to the city, which leased it to the Polk County Historical Society. After restoration it opened in 1978 as the county's first museum.
Significance in brief: It is significant for its architecture as a work attributed to Hentz, Reid and Adler, whose principal designer was J. Neel Reid. It is also significant in social-humanitarian history as one of the libraries funded by the bequest of Atlanta philanthropist Albert King Hawkes. In local history it was Cedartown's first free public library and later the county's first museum.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80001223, listed November 24, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | N. College St., Cedartown |
|---|---|
| County | Polk County |
| Listed | November 24, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001223 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1921 |
| Architect / builder | Hentz, Reid and Adler |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and retaining nearly all its integrity. It was restored by May 1977 and is used as a museum and library by the county historical society. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Cedartown Commercial Historic District |
| Coordinates | 34.01325, -85.25631 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80001223.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16892199
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.