Williard Hall
Why it's listed
Williard Hall is a three-story dormitory on the Heidelberg College campus in Tiffin, Ohio, built in 1906-1907 in a Modern English Gothic style. Designed by Patton and Miller and built by Sievert, Ernst, & Rogers, it has brick walls faced with rock-faced ashlar and squared, coursed rubble, and a gable roof of terra cotta tile. The main entrance sits under a one-story open porch with an elliptical arched doorway and a carved wooden transom bearing the building's name, beside a domed tower. It was first a women's residence, then became a men's dormitory in 1972. Named for George W. Williard, the college's fourth president, it was paid for through funds raised by residents of Tiffin and Seneca County. It was the first of the campus's gray limestone buildings and set the pattern for later construction. A walkway joins it to neighboring Miller Hall.
Significance in brief: It was the first of the gray limestone buildings on campus and set the trend for later college construction. It was named for George W. Williard, fourth president of the college, and was built with funds raised by the people of Tiffin and Seneca County. It is nominated as part of a thematic group tracing the college's educational effort and its architectural development through a variety of styles.
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 79002771, listed February 12, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 116 Greenfield St., Tiffin |
|---|---|
| County | Seneca County |
| Listed | February 12, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002771 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1906-1907 |
| Architect / builder | Patton and Miller (architects); Sievert, Ernst, & Rogers (contractor/builder) |
| Architectural style | Modern English Gothic |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a men's dormitory since 1972; exterior condition very good, interior fair. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.11461, -83.16450 (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 79002771.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138673335
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.