Cedarville Opera House
Also known as: Cedarville Town Hall
Why it's listed
Built in 1888 at the corner of Main and Xenia Streets in Cedarville, this brick building combined local government offices with a second-floor opera hall. Its Richardsonian Romanesque design includes a projecting tower with a round-arched entrance, hexagonal turrets, a gable stone inscribed TOWN HALL, 1888, and a five-story campanile once used to dry fire hoses. Inside, the opera hall survives with its stage, curved balcony with box seats, dressing rooms, sloped floor, theater seats and ticket booths. The first floor has housed township trustees, village council and mayor continuously, and formerly held the fire department and jail; it now serves the police, waterworks and library. For almost a century the hall hosted touring plays, graduations, medicine shows, political rallies, minstrels and musicals, making it a social and political center for the community. It was recognized for this role and as a well-preserved example of a style popular for large public buildings from 1870 to about 1900.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it served for almost a century as the political and social center of the community, housing township and village government offices and hosting touring plays, graduations, rallies and other events. It also holds one of the best preserved opera halls in the area and is an impressive example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture.
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 84003697, listed February 9, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 78 N. Main St., Cedarville |
|---|---|
| County | Greene County |
| Listed | February 9, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003697 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1888 |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in excellent condition and occupied; the first floor is used by township and village offices, police, waterworks and library, and the upstairs hallway is noted as vacant in a photo caption. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.74187, -83.80682 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 84003697.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2493236
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.