Laird Hall
Also known as: Science Hall
Why it's listed
Laird Hall is a three-story science building on the Heidelberg College campus in Tiffin, Ohio, built between 1911 and 1913 to designs by Patton and Miller. Built in the Modern English Gothic style, it has brick walls with stone facing, a tile roof, a rock-faced ashlar foundation and twin entrances with cut stone heads and quoins. Elliptical windows have radiating voussoirs, and twin gables mark the center section, where a stone panel reads "Science Hall." Mrs. Della Shawhan Laird, widow of Tiffin businessman Rezin W. Shawhan, donated the building, which was first used for all the sciences. It now houses only the biological sciences, along with the Jones Mineral and Biology Museums. Later changes include a greenhouse on the west side, an enclosed walkway to Bareis Hall at the rear and a new basement entrance. Its place in a group of college buildings reflects the institution's growth since 1850.
Significance in brief: It is part of a thematic group of Heidelberg College buildings nominated for how they show the college's growth and development since its founding in 1850. Laird Hall represents the campus's early twentieth-century science facilities and is an example of Modern English Gothic design.
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 79002775, listed February 12, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 70 Greenfield St., Tiffin |
|---|---|
| County | Seneca County |
| Listed | February 12, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002775 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Patton and Miller (architects) |
| Architectural style | Modern English Gothic |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as the college's biological science hall and houses the Jones Mineral and Biology Museums; condition listed as very good inside and out. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.11503, -83.16618 (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 79002775.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138673355
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.