The Circleville Historic District in
Circleville, Ohio in
Pickaway County, Ohio is a
historic district
A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries or jurisdictions, historic districts receive legal protection from c ...
which was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
[ Its area included 69 ]contributing buildings
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing property or contributing resource is any building, object, or structure which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic distric ...
.[
The district's (and Circleville's) center is the Pickaway County Courthouse. Circleville's original layout was designed to have streets radiating away from it, and it was to be enclosed by two concentric circular streets. By 1860, the "circle was squared" by subsequent development and alterations to property lines.][
The district has numerous examples of ]Late Victorian architecture
Victorian architecture is a series of architectural revival styles in the mid-to-late 19th century. ''Victorian'' refers to the reign of Queen Victoria (1837–1901), called the Victorian era, during which period the styles known as Victorian we ...
, including of Queen Anne and Italianate styles.[
]
Locations
Selected buildings are:
*Pickaway County Courthouse (1847, 1896). This was built in 1847 as a small Greek Revival-style courthouse. It was extensively modified in 1896 by architects Weary & Kramer, so much so that the original building was almost entirely concealed. It has smooth stone pilasters
In classical architecture, a pilaster is an architectural element used to give the appearance of a supporting column and to articulate an extent of wall, with only an ornamental function. It consists of a flat surface raised from the main wall ...
, a hipped roof, and a square tower.[
*Circleville City Hall (1861), also known as "Circleville City Building". This was designed by local architect William Doane in "Romano-Tuscan style" (i.e. Italianate style?). As common in Italianate architecture in the United States, it has ]eaves
The eaves are the edges of the roof which overhang the face of a wall and, normally, project beyond the side of a building. The eaves form an overhang to throw water clear of the walls and may be highly decorated as part of an architectural styl ...
ostensibly supported by decorative wooden brackets and a wooden cupola. It was in excellent condition in 1977.[ William Doane also designed the William Marshall Anderson House, also in Circleville and National Register-listed.
*Sheriff's Office & Jail (c.1890). This was at first a two-story brick-and-stone Queen Anne-style house with a round tower at its northeast corner. It was later converted to hold the sheriff's office, and a jail was added in a three-story brick extension to the rear.][
*Masonic Lodge (1876), 113-115 W. Main St. Italianate, brick-and-stone, four-story building designed by J.T. Harris of Columbus. Its upper two floors were used for Masonic lodge purposes.][
*The People's Bank (aka Marfield Bank) (1848), 133-135 W. Main St. This was operated as a bank by Samuel Marfield until 1877. According to the National Register nomination, this "2-story brick and stone building is the only remaining structure with a portion of its property line still part of the original circular pattern f Circleville's original layout"][ The Pickaway County Historical Society restored it in 1972.][
*The Olds Building (aka Old Masonic Lodge) (1837), 115-119 W. Main St. Three-story brick building with parapet walls. In 1977 its first floor held two businesses "which have been there since the mid-1800's."][ With 18 accompanying photos, including two of the Pythian Castle on PDF pages 59 & 61.]
*Pythian Castle, 118 N. Court St.
*Circleville Post Office, 224 S. Court St. The post office was not mentioned in the 1977 National Register nomination as a contributing building, nor is it mentioned as an intrusion, but it is included within the district's boundaries.[
*Moore House (1818, 1844, 1870), 304 S. Court St. Brick house with bracketed ]cornice
In architecture, a cornice (from the Italian ''cornice'' meaning "ledge") is generally any horizontal decorative moulding that crowns a building or furniture element—for example, the cornice over a door or window, around the top edge of a ...
and bracketed hoods over its doors. It was modified in 1844 by Samuel Moore (d.1902) who was "one of the most outstanding and public spirited citizens of Circleville." In 1977 the house was still owned by Moore family members.[
]
See also
*, including several individually listed buildings in Circleville
Notes
References
External links
*
{{National Register of Historic Places
Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Ohio
National Register of Historic Places in Pickaway County, Ohio
Italianate architecture in Ohio
Queen Anne architecture in Ohio