Pfleiderer Center for Religion and the Humanities
Also known as: Library; Fine Arts Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1911-1912 on the Heidelberg College campus in Tiffin, Ohio, this two-story building was designed by Patton and Miller in a Modern English Gothic style. It has brick walls with a stone facing of squared, coursed rubble, a rock-faced ashlar foundation, corner buttresses, mullion windows with radiating voussoirs, and a gable roof of terra cotta tile. The elliptical main entrance has a cut stone head and quoins, and its transom panel once bore the word "Library." Andrew Carnegie gave $25,000 for the college library on condition that a matching sum be raised, an unusual grant because Tiffin already had a Carnegie library. Alumnus Dr. John H. Prugh helped secure it and raised the second $25,000. The building served as the library until 1967, then became the Fine Arts Building. In 1970 a gift from Dorothy Painter Pfleiderer paid for its renovation as a center for religion and the humanities, named for her husband, Arthur B. Pfleiderer, a trustee from 1953 to 1969.
Significance in brief: The building was funded by a $25,000 Carnegie gift, an unusual second library grant for the same city, secured through alumnus Dr. John H. Prugh. It served as the college library until 1967, then as the Fine Arts Building, and was renovated in 1970 as a center for religion and the humanities. It is nominated as part of a group of campus buildings tracing the college's growth and architectural development.
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 79002773, listed February 12, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 28 Greenfield St., Tiffin |
|---|---|
| County | Seneca County |
| Listed | February 12, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002773 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1911-1912 |
| Architect / builder | Patton and Miller |
| Architectural style | Modern English Gothic |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used for classrooms; condition listed as very good inside and out. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.11545, -83.16798 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 79002773.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138673346
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.