H. W. Derby Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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H. W. Derby Building
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Front and side of the building
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| Location | 300 W. Fourth Street Cincinnati, Ohio |
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| Architect | Samuel Hannaford |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 80003045 |
| Added to NRHP | March 3, 1980 |
The H. W. Derby Building is a special historic building located in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was designed by a famous architect named Samuel Hannaford. This building is important because it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's recognized for its historical value. It was added to this list on March 3, 1980.
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About the H. W. Derby Building
The H. W. Derby Building is a great example of Italianate architecture. This style was popular in the mid-1800s. It often features tall, narrow windows and decorative details. The building stands at 300 West Fourth Street in Cincinnati.
Who Was H. W. Derby?
H. W. Derby & Co. was a very important company in its time. They ran a large and fancy bookstore in the western United States. They were well-known throughout the Ohio Valley. This company also helped sell books from big publishers like Harpers and Appleton.
Publishing and Libraries
H. W. Derby also had a big business publishing books. They published law books, medical books, and many other types of books. Their law books were especially famous in the West.
Derby also played a big part in helping libraries. In 1853, a law was passed in Ohio to create school libraries. H. W. Derby strongly supported this law. His company supplied many of the books for these new school libraries across the state.
Other Derby Buildings and Ventures
Before the current H. W. Derby Building, there was another "Derby's Building" in Cincinnati. It was designed by architect John R. Hamilton's firm. That earlier building was later taken down.
H. W. Derby also opened an art gallery in New York City called the Institute of Fine Arts. He later exhibited paintings from other countries around the United States. One of these paintings, "Prodigal Son," was unfortunately destroyed in a fire in Cincinnati. In the late 1870s, Derby returned to Columbus, Ohio, and then moved back to Cincinnati. There, he built another impressive business block, which was also later damaged by fire.
