Erwin Hall, Marietta College
Also known as: Chapel Building; Middle Building; Science Hall; See Also:Mariet
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Erwin Hall is a three-story Greek Revival brick building on the Marietta College campus in Marietta, Ohio. Its cornerstone was laid in July 1845 and it was completed in 1850. Brick Doric pilasters run the full height of the walls, and a two-stage wooden clock and bell tower rises behind the pediment. The bell has hung there since 1852. Originally the hall held the chapel, lecture rooms, the library and two literary society halls. Interior partitions, laboratories and fireproofing were added over the years, while the exterior changed little. Today it houses classrooms and offices for psychology and sociology. It is the oldest surviving building on campus and the college's chief symbol. Architect-superintendent Rufus Erastus Harte, who had attended Western Reserve College in Hudson, probably based the design on the chapel there, completed in 1836. Historian Eric Johannesen's theory holds that the hall reflects a New England design arriving in southern Ohio by way of the Western Reserve.
Significance in brief: It is the oldest existing structure on the Marietta College campus and has served as the chief symbol of the college since 1850. The nomination also argues that its design, closely resembling the 1836 chapel at Western Reserve in Hudson, shows a New England design traveling south via the Western Reserve, giving it significance beyond Marietta.
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 73001547, listed April 23, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 5th St. on Marietta College campus, Marietta |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | April 23, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001547 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1845-1850 |
| Architect / builder | Rufus Erastus Harte, gentleman architect-superintendent |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition and occupied; now houses classrooms, laboratories and offices of the psychology and sociology departments. Externally little altered, with the interior changed over time. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Marietta Historic District (Boundary Decrease) |
| Coordinates | 39.41697, -81.45034 (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 73001547.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q111324889
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.