Floral Hall (Bowling Green, Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Floral Hall
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Eastern front of the hall
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | City Park on Conneaut Ave., Bowling Green, Ohio |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1884 |
| NRHP reference No. | 82003666 |
| Added to NRHP | July 27, 1982 |
The Floral Hall is an old and important building in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. It was built in the 1880s for a big county fair. This hall is a great example of buildings used for exhibitions back then. Even though it's not used for the fair anymore, it's now a special historic site.
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History of the Floral Hall
Early County Fairs
The very first county fair in Wood County happened in 1851 in Bowling Green. For the next five years, the fair moved around to places like Perrysburg and Portageville. This happened because of disagreements among the fair organizers. Also, diseases like cholera and ague sometimes affected the fairgrounds.
After the Civil War, the fair organizers bought land in Tontogany for a permanent fairground. But Bowling Green still wanted to host the county fair.
A New Fair in Bowling Green
Because of this, a new group called the Wood County Fair Company started in Bowling Green. They bought land in Bowling Green and began holding their own fairs in 1881. These fairs became very popular and successful.
By 1885, the original Agricultural Society even started talking about joining forces with the new company. The money earned by the Bowling Green fair grew a lot. From 1884 to 1894, their earnings went from about $3,889 to $7,945.
What the Hall Was Used For
The Floral Hall was built in 1884 at the fairgrounds in Bowling Green. At first, it was used to show off beautiful flowers and plants. Later, in the 1900s, it was renamed "Needle Hall." This was because it started hosting amazing needlework exhibitions.
Over time, the county fair moved to a different spot. The old fairgrounds in Bowling Green became a city park. All the other buildings from the fair were eventually taken down. But the city decided to keep the Floral Hall. They turned it into a picnic shelter and have taken great care of it ever since.
Building Design
How Floral Hall Looks
The Floral Hall is made mostly of wood. It sits on a strong brick foundation. The roof is covered with shingles. You can also see some stone parts on the building. The lower part of the walls, called the water table, is made of wood.
The hall is one story tall. It has an interesting eight-sided shape, which is called an octagon. This octagonal design was very common for floral halls in Ohio during that time. Its layout is like a changed Greek cross. The doors and other parts of the outside have special details called Stick-style decorations.
A Historic Landmark
In 1982, the Floral Hall (which was also known as Needle Hall) was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It earned this special listing because of its unique architecture and its important role in local history.
The Floral Hall is one of five places in Bowling Green listed on the National Register. It is also one of thirty-one historic places in all of Wood County. There's another similar octagonal floral hall in Mount Gilead, on the Morrow County fairgrounds.
