Herring-Cole Hall, St. Lawrence University
Also known as: Herring Library and Cole Reading Room
Why it's listed
Herring-Cole Hall is a sandstone library building on the St. Lawrence University campus in Canton, New York. It was built in two stages. The Herring Library, a one-and-a-half-story building in the Italian style, was completed in 1869 with a gift from Silas Herring, maker of Champion Safes. Its architect is unknown. In 1902 the Cole Reading Room, funded by Edward Cole and designed by the New York firm of Huberty and Hudswell, was attached at right angles, giving the building a T-shaped plan and nearly doubling its size. The reading room is a single lofty space ringed by a gallery on Corinthian columns, with golden oak woodwork, exposed roof framing and a stained glass rose window showing the college seal. The library served the university until a new library opened in 1962. The building later held the Fine Arts Department and then the university archives, and the reading room is again used for study. The contrast between the two sections is the main reason for its significance.
Significance in brief: It is presented as a fusion of late nineteenth and early twentieth century architectural styles and was the second building constructed at the university. The modest 1869 library in the Italian style contrasts with the lavish 1902 reading room designed by Huberty and Hudswell. The reading room's intact oak interior and its continued use as a study space add to its importance.
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 74002203, listed May 1, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | St. Lawrence University campus, Canton |
|---|---|
| County | St. Lawrence County |
| Listed | May 1, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74002203 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th and 20th centuries; specific dates 1869 (Library) and 1902 (Reading Room) |
| Architect / builder | Herring Library: architect unknown; Cole Reading Room: Huberty and Hudswell of New York City |
| Architectural style | Italian style (Herring Library) combined with an early twentieth century classical-style reading room |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition marked excellent/good and altered. The reading room is again used for study and the building houses the university archives; restoration is gradual. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 44.59238, -75.16393 (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 74002203.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5744084
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.