Middletown's Carnegie Library was once a symbol of civic pride for the community. The imposing building opened with a $25,000 Carnegie grant just months before the Great Flood of 1913, suffering only minimal damage. Designed by George Barkman of Hamilton, the library is the only Carnegie ever to be designed by a Butler County architect. The building received additions in 1932 and 1959 before being abandoned for a new big-box style library that opened closer to downtown in 1983. Later acquired by a women’s shelter, the building was temporarily occupied, but has been vacant for several years.
      Now in severe disrepair, the library's ownership is in limbo and the building faces potential demolition by the City of Middletown.

UPDATE: CHAPS and its Carnegie Action Committee has purchased the library, calming fears about demolition by city. Restoration efforts will continue.

The Mehrum-Lindley Block consists of two structures which were joined to form one complex. The oldest and largest section, the Mehrum Building, was completed in 1900. Henry Frechtling chose to name the building after his hometown of Mehrum, Germany. On November 6, 1906 a massive fire destroyed almost the entire structure, only sparing the beautiful terra cotta façade. Secured by the lease of the Strauss Clothing Company, the Mathes-Sohngen Company rebuilt the building to a larger scale.
      Sometime between 1906 and 1913, the Lindley Building, a narrow, red brick structure to the west of the Mehrum Building was constructed. This structure would see a variety of uses until 1922, when renovations connected the building with the Mehrum Building, and the Strauss Clothing Company expanded into it. Both structures survived the Great Flood of 1913, and held dominate positions along the north side of High Street.  
      A 1924 pamphlet celebrates the 50^th Anniversary of Strauss and states their storefront was “as recognizable as the courthouse.” This is hard to doubt, the company had installed lighting all across the middle section of the building, proclaiming the Strauss name and illuminating High Street. Postcards of the building lit up in 1909 were printed and distributed. Strauss would survive until the mid-1950’s, when H.R. Green took over their space in the complex.
      The buildings are now cladded with unattractive brown louvers that hide its character and stifle a vision of preservation. The louvers were installed in the 1970’s when the complex was turned into the Hamilton Center which housed retail, convention, and office space.
      The complex sits almost entirely vacant today. The original façade is mostly intact, although the entablature has been lost across the front. Demolition was announced in 2005, but has been delayed. The complex was added to Preservation Ohio's Most Endangered List in 2007.

UPDATE: The Hamilton Center was again listed on Preservation Ohio's Most Endangered List for 2008. To view the listing online, click here.

Designed by architect Frank Mills Andrews, First Baptist Church was constructed in 1906. Andrews worked on a number of notable projects including the Kentucky State Capitol. Paul Sorg provided a $10,000 donation to jumpstart the church's building program. The church, made of Bedford Stone, was vibrant until 1972, when First Baptist moved to a new location. Various owners have occupied the building since. The church is part of Middletown's South Main Street Historic District.
      In late 2005, fire swept through the rear of the building. Although the Sanctuary was saved, year of water leaks have damaged the entire structure. The City of Middletown has begun the necessary notification steps for demolition.

The first building in the new Hub quadrangle, Kreger Hall was originally constructed in three phases as Hughes Hall. The three phases, or wings, were built in 1931, 1937, and 1939. The building is of New England Georgian design with a central cupola. The building was used for chemistry instruction until the new Hughes Hall was constructed in 1970. Renamed Kreger Hall, the building was put in use for the School of Applied Science.
      With the School of Engineering and Applied Science vacating the Kreger Hall, the future of the building is being evaluated. For the time being, the building is being used as swing space during Warfield Hall's rehabiliation. The adjacent Robertson Hall will be demolished.

UPDATE: Miami University Trustees have awarded a contract not to exceed $1.8 million for the design and engineering to renovate Kreger Hall, calming fears about the hall's demise.

Middletown constructed two new junior high schools in 1930: McKinley and Roosevelt. The grand buildings each shared a similar floor plan, but featured different exterior architecture styles: Roosevelt in Colonial and McKinley in English. Roosevelt was converted to a middle school in 1969 and to an elementary in 1981.
      Middletown City Schools has embarked on a rebuilding program that includes demolition of numerous historic schools. The district plans to demolish Roosevelt in 2008 after the new Wildwood Elementary opens.

UPDATE: A group of neighborhood residents is raising money to conduct a feasibility study for the resue of Roosevelt instead of demoltion.

Completed in 1904, the Hossfield building was said to have "every accommodation for carrying on modern and up-to-date business." Paid for by the estate of Charles Hossfield, the building was erected for the Hossfield Company who specialized in high grades of native and foreign wines and liquors in the wholesale trade. The building was also used as a hotel and, later, an apartment building. The design was completed by local architect Frederick Mueller.
      In 2005, a fire roared through the building, but no action has been taken to repair the damaged structure. The loss of this building will create a large gap in downtown, hurting the city's urban character.

Vail Middle School was originally constructed as Middletown High School in 1923. The new high school was part of a building program that included the construction of two new elementary schools (Lincoln and Garfield) and two new junior highs (McKinley and Roosevelt). The school contained a 1300 seat auditorium and fifty-five classrooms. Of massive proportions, the school's facade contains several inscriptions including "Religion and Education are the Safeguards of Our Nation." In 1969, a new high school was completed and the building became Vail Middle School.
      Middletown City School's current rebuilding program calls for the demolition of a number of beautiful historic schools. If voters approve an upcoming issue to construct a new high school for Middletown, the district plans to demolish Vail.

Immediately adjacent to the old Miami-Erie Canal (now Verity Parkway), the Sebald and Castell Buildings are two of the largest, most impressive buildings in downtown Middletown. Both buildings were constructed by the Sebald Realty Company, a spin-off of the Sebald Brewery that once stood near the site; numerous other downtown properties were once in their control.
      The massive Castell Building was completed in 1914 and sits at the end of Central Avenue's curve at Verity Parkway. The Sebald Building--with its fabulous arches--was constructed in 1895 and gets its name from the German home of the Sebald family.
      The buildings' upper floors were neglected during the presence of City Centre Mall, a 1970's structure that enclosed Central Avenue and Broad Street. Fears of demolition abound as both sit vacant and deteriorating. The loss of these building will forever change the density, scale, character of downtown Middletown.

UPDATE: The block is now under new ownership and plans have been proposed for its renovation.