Centerville Town Hall
Also known as: First Presbyterian Church of Centerville
Why it's listed
Centerville Town Hall is a former Presbyterian church in the hamlet of Centerville, in northwest Allegany County, New York. Completed in 1859 at a cost of $3,000, the two-story wood-frame building has a temple front with a full pediment, fluted Doric pilasters and two fluted Ionic columns set between the walls of a recessed porch. A one-story horse and carriage shed extends from the rear, a feature rarely preserved in the region. The congregation declined after the Civil War, and the building later hosted other denominations. The local Grange bought it in 1909 and used it as a hall until the Town of Centerville purchased it in 1927 for town offices and a community center. Later changes, including a partly walled-off pulpit area and a closed gallery, left the original woodwork intact. It is described as the town's most notable public building and its only surviving pre-Civil War structure, valued for its Greek Revival design and its shed.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a largely intact, high-style example of Greek Revival church design in a rural farming community. Its bold front elevation with Doric pilasters and Ionic columns in antis is highlighted. The rear horse and carriage shed is a rare surviving church shed in the Southern Tier. It is also the only surviving building in the town from before the Civil War.
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 09000154, listed March 25, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Fairview Rd., Centerville |
|---|---|
| County | Allegany County |
| Listed | March 25, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000154 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1858-1927 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as the Centerville town hall and community center since 1927; the town is planning a renovation to restore its original Greek Revival character. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.47899, -78.24954 (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 09000154.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5060138
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.