Anna Town Hall
Why it's listed
Anna's Town Hall is a large brick building on Main Street in Anna, Ohio, erected shortly after the village incorporated in 1877. It was built to hold a jail, an opera house, a fire department and village offices under one roof. The north facade and west side feature intricate brickwork, arched tin hoodmolds, a gabled dormer and a square bell tower that served as the fire alarm. The slate hipped roof carries the name ANNA in yellow paint. Inside, the second-floor opera house retains a stage, a sloping floor and a pressed tin ceiling. In a village where most buildings are frame, this brick hall stands out for its multiple civic uses and its original look. The village council chose to restore the exterior from old photographs rather than cover it with new brick or aluminum. The building has also come through the area's earthquakes untouched, though its future was described as uncertain.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is outstanding in a village where most buildings are frame, because of its elaborate brickwork and arched tin hoodmolds, its multiple civic uses, and its largely original appearance. It also anchors the community's history, built on the old road from Minster near the railroad that shaped the town.
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 78002187, listed September 20, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Main St., Anna |
|---|---|
| County | Shelby County |
| Listed | September 20, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002187 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca 1880-1900 |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the Village of Anna. The opera house is deteriorated and no longer used and the jail was discontinued. The fire department still houses two trucks and the village council uses the west first floor as an office and meeting room. Exterior restoration is planned. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.39497, -84.17575 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 78002187.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4767555
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.