Belmont Literary and Historical Society Free Library
Also known as: Belmont Free Library
Why it's listed
Occupying a triangular lot where Willets Avenue meets Norton Street and Park Place, this two-story brick library in Belmont takes its shape from its site rather than from a single architectural style. Towers mark the corners, and the tallest, holding the main entrance, carries a clock added in 1908 that is still wound by hand each week. The building was begun in 1893 to plans by N. G. Tuthill of Corning and finished in 1904. It was named Ward Hall for Mary Chamberlain Ward, its main benefactor. Her son, the Rev. John Ward, designed the clock tower. A women's literary society founded in 1885 created the library and has managed it ever since, as part of the late nineteenth century women's club movement. Repairs in the 1940s brought clapboard in the south gable and a single entrance door, yet the building keeps its original form and most historic fabric. It remains a working library for the village and county seat.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a highly intact example of late nineteenth century vernacular public architecture (Criterion C). It is also significant under Criterion A in Education and Social History, because a women's literary society created and has run the library since 1885 as part of the national women's club movement.
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 03000599, listed July 5, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2 Willets Ave., Belmont |
|---|---|
| County | Allegany County |
| Listed | July 5, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03000599 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1893-1953 |
| Architect / builder | N. G. Tuthill; The Rev. John Ward (clock tower) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian; Victorian Eclectic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History, Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a library. The second floor, partitioned into offices in the 1960s, is unoccupied and used for library storage and book sale staging. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.22346, -78.03559 (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 03000599.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4884389
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.