Hawkes Children's Library of West Point
Why it's listed
Facing the Chattahoochee River in the center of West Point, Georgia, this one-story brick library was built in the Georgian Revival style, with end chimneys, fine wood moldings, brick quoins and a central brick entrance portico. Inside, one large room holds a central delivery hall flanked by children's and general reading rooms, along with built-in shelves, seating and two original fireplaces. The library came from a bequest by Atlanta optician Albert K. Hawkes, who left funds to several Georgia towns for children's libraries. West Point accepted in 1917 after an earlier Carnegie offer fell through. Robert and Company of Atlanta drew the plans in 1919, floods delayed construction, and local builders Batson and Cook completed it for a September 1922 opening. It was the town's first public library and the only publicly supported one for West Point and nearby Alabama communities until 1976. It still operates as a library today.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a good example of Georgian Revival style used for a small public building, and an early work of the Atlanta firm Robert and Company. It also marks the first public library in West Point, funded through the bequest of Atlanta optician Albert K. Hawkes. It served West Point and nearby Alabama communities as the only publicly supported library until 1976.
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 90001990, listed December 28, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 100 W. 8th St., West Point |
|---|---|
| County | Troup County |
| Listed | December 28, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001990 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1922-1940 |
| Architect / builder | Robert and Company of Atlanta (architects); Batson and Cook of West Point (builders) |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a library, serving mostly adult fiction, children's books and local history; a handicapped access ramp at the front entrance is the only major change. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.87662, -85.18175 (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 90001990.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5684999
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.