Ottawa Waterworks Building
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1904, this one-story red brick building at 1035 E. Third Street served as Ottawa's waterworks. It was the first pumping station in Putnam County and the village's first major water improvement program, delivering piped water to residents for the first time. It was built under the direction of the first Board of Public Affairs, created under the Ohio municipal code of 1892. The building rests on a rough-cut sandstone foundation, with brick pilasters dividing the symmetrical nine-section facade. Round-arched transoms and stone lintels form a continuous band across the front. A steeply pitched hip roof of red curved tiles, a louvered cupola and finials give it an oriental influence. It stands in a park on the east side of the village. Since a new water treatment plant was completed, the building has been used for storage and for pumps serving the industrial waterline. The village planned to restore it as a Senior Citizens Center.
Significance in brief: It was the first pumping station in Putnam County and the village's first major water improvement program, supplying residents with their first piped water. The form also describes it as an interesting, well-planned example of a public building, with a symmetrical facade and a tile roof that gives it an oriental influence.
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 76001519, listed September 13, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1035 E. 3rd St., Ottawa |
|---|---|
| County | Putnam County |
| Listed | September 13, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001519 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1904 |
| Architectural style | Vernacular |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in excellent condition. Used for storage and to house pumps and related equipment for the industrial waterline system. The village intended to restore it as a Senior Citizens Center. |
| Acreage | 3.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.02152, -84.03652 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 76001519.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14716772
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.