Levering Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Levering Hall
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Front and side of the hall. Note the differing rooflines of the two portions of the building.
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 12 S. Main St., Mount Gilead, Ohio |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1876 |
| Architect | William Miller |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 80003180 |
| Added to NRHP | May 29, 1980 |
Levering Hall is an old and important building in Mount Gilead, Ohio, a town in Ohio, United States. It's a great example of the Italianate style, which was popular a long time ago. This building was made to be a place for many different community activities.
Contents
Discovering Levering Hall's Style
Levering Hall has some special features that make it stand out. You can see fancy ironwork and detailed cornices. A cornice is a decorative molding around the top of a building or wall.
How the Building Changed Over Time
The building was finished in 1876. This was the year America celebrated its 100th birthday! Levering Hall was first planned to be a village hall and a fire station.
But before building started, some local business people had another idea. They wanted to use the front part of the building for shops or offices. So, the front and back parts of the building were built separately. The whole project cost $22,500.
One of the most interesting parts of the finished building was an opera hall. This was a place where people could watch plays and shows. It was used as a community theater until the late 1940s. The village offices and fire station also moved out of the building in the mid-1900s.
Building Levering Hall
Plans for Levering Hall were made when Mount Gilead was growing very fast. It had recently been just a small crossroads community. The first stone of the building, called the cornerstone, was placed on June 28, 1876. The building was finished by the end of that year.
Who Built It?
The builders were a company called Miller and Smith. They were well-known for their work on several county courthouses in Ohio. They also built the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio.
Who Was Allen Levering?
The building is named after a leading businessman from Mount Gilead, Allen Levering. He was a very important person in the community. Later, he even became a state legislator. This means he helped make laws for the state of Ohio. Allen Levering helped organize the local business group that wanted to use the building for shops.
A Historic Landmark
In 1980, Levering Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of buildings, sites, and objects that are important in American history.
It was added to the list for a few reasons. Its unique architecture was one reason. Its role in the history of Mount Gilead was another. And its connection to Allen Levering also made it special.
