France Hall
Why it's listed
France Hall is a women's dormitory on the Heidelberg College campus in Tiffin, Ohio, built in 1925-1926 in a Modern English Gothic style. The three-story building has brick walls with stone facing, a rock-faced ashlar foundation and a gabled terra-cotta tile roof. Its main entrance has a Gothic arch doorway with quoins at the base of a tower, and the name "France Hall" is carved in stone above the arch. Mullioned windows, gable dormers and a bay window add to the design. Miller, Pullenwider, and Dowling designed it. George A. France of Toledo, a member of the college's Board of Regents, gave the building in memory of his mother. It also houses the women's society halls. A first-floor walkway connects it to Brown Hall on the west, and Williard Hall sits across the street. It was listed as part of a group of campus buildings that show the college's growth since 1850.
Significance in brief: It was nominated as part of a thematic group of Heidelberg College buildings that reflect the college's growth since its founding in 1850. The building was given by George A. France of Toledo, a member of the Board of Regents, in memory of his mother. It is a Modern English Gothic design that adds to the chronological development of campus architecture.
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 79002776, listed February 12, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 119 Greenfield St., Tiffin |
|---|---|
| County | Seneca County |
| Listed | February 12, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002776 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1925-1926 |
| Architect / builder | Miller, Pullenwider, and Dowling (architect/engineer) |
| Architectural style | Modern English Gothic |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a women's dormitory; interior condition good, exterior very good. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.11534, -83.16429 (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.
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 79002776.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138673367
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.