Paulding County Carnegie Library
Why it's listed
Paulding County's Carnegie library is a one-story brick building with a full basement at 205 South Main Street, built between 1912 and 1914. Columbus architects Howard and Merriam designed it in an inverted T plan, using French gray pressed brick with Bedford Indiana stone trim. The facade carries stringcourses, a dentilled cornice, corner pilasters and round cartouches, and the stone arched entrance is flanked by Palladian windows. Inside, a central lobby opens onto three book rooms, with oak woodwork and fireplaces carved with scholar's lamp and laurel wreath motifs. The library matters because it was the first county library funded by Andrew Carnegie; earlier grants went only to cities and towns of more than 2,000 people. Its modest, efficient design follows the guidance of Carnegie's secretary James Bertram, while its massing and ornament show Beaux Arts Classicism. It sits in a grassy park beside Flat Rock Creek and remains a public building owned by the county.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the first county library funded by Andrew Carnegie, since earlier grants had gone only to cities and towns of over 2,000 people. It reflects the Carnegie Foundation's shifting grant and architectural policies, including James Bertram's call for modest, efficient designs. It also shows Beaux Arts Classicism influence and serves as a civic landmark for the county seat.
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 83002021, listed April 21, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 205 S. Main St., Paulding |
|---|---|
| County | Paulding County |
| Listed | April 21, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83002021 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1912-1914 |
| Architect / builder | Howard & Merriam (architects, Columbus); a plaque lists Howard B. Merriam as architect and Willing Bros. as builders |
| Architectural style | Carnegie Library style with Beaux Arts Classicism influence |
| Areas of significance | Social History, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied and in use as a library, in good condition, on its original site and unaltered at the time of nomination. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Paulding Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.13616, -84.57900 (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 83002021.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14716776
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.