Emery Hall
Why it's listed
Emery Hall is a brick dormitory completed in 1913 on the original Wilberforce University campus in Greene County, Ohio. Architect Frank L. Packard of Columbus gave it a symmetrical Colonial Revival design, with a two-story wooden portico, an octagonal cupola, brick quoins and flanking gable-fronted pavilions joined to the main block by connecting walkways. It housed about eighty women students, with lounges and a dining room. Emery Hall is one of only a few historic buildings left on the Wilberforce and Central State campuses after a 1974 tornado destroyed much of the old campus, including two other Packard buildings. It reflects early twentieth century college planning and the work of student artisans who helped build campus structures. Fundraising by educator and activist Hallie Q. Brown made its construction possible. The dormitory now stands vacant and deteriorated, though restoration appears in the university's master plan.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an outstanding example of early 20th century collegiate Colonial Revival architecture in Ohio and the only survivor of three Packard-designed Colonial Revival buildings on the campuses. It is also significant for its long association with Wilberforce University, Ohio's first historically Black college, where it served for most of the 20th century as a women's dormitory. It reflects student craftsmanship and fundraising by Hallie Q. Brown.
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 05001144, listed October 4, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Central State University Campus, Wilberforce |
|---|---|
| County | Greene County |
| Listed | October 4, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05001144 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1913-1955 |
| Architect / builder | Frank Packard, Columbus, OH (architect); George Abernathy, Columbus, OH (contractor) |
| Architectural style | Colonial/Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Education, Black |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The building currently stands vacant and in need of restoration; restoration is included in the university's master plan. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.71756, -83.88267 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 05001144.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138348737
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.