Middleport Public Library
Why it's listed
Built in 1912 at 178 South Third Street, the Middleport Public Library is a one-story T-plan brick building with a tile hip roof and raised basement. A pedimented portico with fluted Doric columns marks the entrance and carries the words "Carnegie Library." Brick quoins, dentils and jack-arched windows with sandstone keystones give the exterior Georgian Revival touches. Inside, an oak vestibule opens to a lobby with a tin ceiling, and the original shelving survives. The library grew from a 1908 citizen effort that began with a book reception and a small collection housed above a store. After corresponding with the Carnegie Corporation, the town received $7,500 for a new building, and residents raised money for the lot. Its plain, efficient plan follows guidance from Carnegie's secretary James Bertram. Athens contractor Charles P. Kircher built it. A children's room was added in 1963 and a ramp in 1983, both placed so the original building was left undisturbed.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the library is significant for its link to the early twentieth-century Carnegie Corporation library grant movement and as a reflection of this small rural community's pride. Architecturally, it follows the modest, efficient library style promoted by James Bertram, with refined Georgian Revival details. It is described as the most architecturally distinct public building in Middleport.
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 86000033, listed January 6, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 178 S. Third St., Middleport |
|---|---|
| County | Meigs County |
| Listed | January 6, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000033 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Charles P. Kircher, Builder |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival details on a Carnegie library design |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in public educational use as a library; condition listed as good and altered, with a 1963 rear addition and a 1983 accessibility ramp. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.99923, -82.05153 (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 86000033.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6841833
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.