Hawkes Library
Also known as: Hawkes Free Children's Library
Why it's listed
Hawkes Free Children's Library is a two-story brick building at 210 South Sixth Street in Griffin, Georgia, designed in 1915 by Atlanta architect Neel Reid. Brick walls are trimmed in white wood and limestone, with a modillion cornice, a brick parapet, arched first-floor windows and a one-story porch of slender composite columns. Inside are panelled rooms, a marble fireplace and a U-shaped stair. The library honors Albert King Hawkes, an Atlanta optical businessman who offered to endow a free library and moving picture house for children. Construction began in 1915 on school grounds, and the building opened to the public on November 28, 1916, as Griffin's first free library. It is also an early work of the firm Hentz, Reid and Adler, whose designs often drew on Georgia's colonial buildings. The library grew to serve eight counties as the Flint River Regional Library, which was headquartered in the building.
Significance in brief: It carries the name of Albert King Hawkes, who envisioned children's libraries and theaters in Georgia towns, and it housed Griffin's first free library. It is also an early surviving work of the Atlanta firm Hentz, Reid and Adler, reflecting colonial Georgian inspiration. It later became the headquarters of the Flint River Regional Library.
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 73002140, listed March 20, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 210 S. 6th St., Griffin |
|---|---|
| County | Spalding County |
| Listed | March 20, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73002140 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1915-1916 |
| Architect / builder | Neel Reid (Hentz, Reid and Adler), architect; Newton Coal and Lumber Company of Griffin, builder |
| Architectural style | Colonial Georgian / colonial revival inspiration |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in good condition and altered, and in use as a library. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 33.24650, -84.26104 (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 73002140.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q15378783
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.