Spencer Town Hall
Also known as: Zorn Engineering Offices
Why it's listed
Spencer Town Hall, at 3833 Eastern Avenue in Cincinnati, is a brick building dated to 1860 on the state inventory form. It was built as a township meeting hall and also housed an I.O.O.F. lodge, and it is described as one of the oldest remaining meeting halls in the city. The building has a symmetrical facade with pilasters, stone capitals, plain lintels and sills, and tall 12-over-12 windows. These details show Greek Revival influences, while the overhanging cornice is Italianate, giving the building a transitional character. Two stone nameplates on the facade identify the township and the Odd Fellows lodge. A recent brick addition has been built onto the front. The building sits about ten feet from a busy street at the edge of the business district, on a fieldstone foundation with a gable roof of shingle. It is now used as engineering offices, and its exterior is in good condition. It was listed as part of the Columbia-Tusculum multiple resource area.
Significance in brief: The inventory describes it as one of the oldest remaining meeting halls in Cincinnati. It served as both a township meeting hall and an I.O.O.F. lodge. It also shows Greek Revival influences with an Italianate cornice.
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 79002701, listed August 24, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 3833 Eastern Ave., Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | August 24, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002701 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Transitional, with Greek Revival influences and an Italianate cornice |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as an engineering firm's offices; condition listed as good on the exterior, with a recent brick addition on the facade. |
| Coordinates | 39.11098, -84.43508 (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 79002701.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7576206
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.