Nomination for Atwater Congregational Church

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form 10-300 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR - State (Rev. 6-72) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM ENTRY DATE (Type all entries - complete applicable sections) FEB 2 3 1973 FEB 15 1973 AND/OR HISTORIC: J.

William Stanton (Check One) TO THE PUBLIC - In Process -x Unrestricted - Preservation work - Transportation - Comments Commercial - Other (Specify) * Religious - Scientific OWNER'S NAME: LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC: TITLE OF SURVEY: DATE OF SURVEY: X Federal - Local DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS: 1934 133 LOCATION NAME Washington Atwater Portage ACCESSIBLE CATEGORY Site Both County Ravenna CLASSIFICATION 011 Educational Private Government Entertainment OWNERSHIP Museum Being Considered Ohio REGISTER District Main Street Unoccupied CODE STATUS Agricultural Library of Congress Structure Industrial Yes: Historic American Buildings Survey Building COMMON: Public Military Park NATIONAL Public Acquisition: Atwater Congregational Church Atwater Congregational Church and Society Private Residence The Congregational Church of Atwater STREET AND NUMBER: REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS CITY OR TOWN: OWNER OF PROPERTY Object 1237 State Route 183 FOR NPS USE ONLY 0.39 RECEIVED PRESENT USE (Check One or More as Appropriate) Portage County Courthouse DATE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRTCT DESCRIPTION - Deteriorated - Unexposed - Unaltered The Atwater Congregational Church, a frame, rectangular Greco-Gothic believed that it is the work of Simeon Porter, builder of Tallmadge Church The east facade of the church features a raised three-bay, full-height Two of the windows on the west side have been closed, though the frames is the second stage which, smaller in diameter than the first, has ionic date later than the building's completion; however, mention is made in the church records of the completion of "this massive structure, towering are in place, though the pew doors were removed in 1877 when the pulpit replaced with FEB 1 5 1973 CONDITION REGISTER Excellent NATIONAL Ruins There are four gothic-arched windows on either side of the building.In Originally there were urn-shaped ornaments at the corners of the square and shutters remain on the exterior.

Gothic arched.There are paired ionic pilasters at either end.A example of the period when Gothic revival superseded Greek revival. major deviations from the prevailing Greek revival character of the Little is known regarding its construction or its designer.It is locally above the entablature. third stage isa colonnaded octagon with domed cupola and a lantern. 1877 the original clear glass was replaced by Victorian patterned glass. a device used by ancient Greeks to give the appearance of stability to has a shallow circular dome which has been restored in 1951 after having was replaced.A basement and two outside entrances on the south side of and a builder of the nearby Western Reserve College. toward the heavens." (Check One) X Good - Moved X Original Site structure, was completed and dedicated in 1841.

It is an excellent columns at each corner and a shuttered, arched window on each face. The The original pews DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (if known) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

base, and above the columns that carry the lantern. Carillon chimes design. Fair A three-stage tower dominates the building.The first stage is square,as second story has three rectangular windows.There is a paneled pediment RECEIVED The outermost columns are paired, I.T.Frary felt there was evidence that the tower was added at a been covered with a metal ceiling some years earlier.T portico which has six lonic columns. shingle and in 1972 the bases of the six portieg

Statement of significance

Atwater was organized into a distinct township, five miles square, on April later a small brick church was built. In 1826, Capt. Caleb Atwater In the fall of 1836 it was decided to build a larger building and in 1837, stone and timber were brought from Charlestown, six miles away. After some Deacon Jonathan Baldwin, though quite ill, was brought from his home to It was dedicated November 7, 1841. The Atwater Congregational Church, located on a knoll, one of the highest points in Atwater, just west of the village green, is today in worship.

Conservation Commerce losophy Military Communications Engineering Religion/Phi Architecture Aboriginal Music NATIONAL Landscape Literature Prehistoric Agriculture Science Invention Specify) Education Sculpture Political Industry June 1799 when Capt.Atwater and a few others arrived from Connecticut to Social/Hum Atwater township was a part of the Connecticut Western Reserve and was the close not the slightest accident had occured during the erection. for an occasional visit by a Home Missionary who called the people together the settlement grew very slowly. begin a settlement.Because of the long journey and the hardships involved Like most new settlements, little attention was paid to religion, except Atwater's land was sold and the proceeds applied to the building fund.The for a preaching service.In 1808,the Rev.

Mr.Leslie preached at the owned by Capt.Caleb Atwater.Indians were the only inhabitants until home of Major Mansfield on the Sabbath.This is believed to be the first delay the building was begun in 1838.When the frame was ready for erection, leased the church and society 200 acres of land the profit arising from meetings on Sunday in a log school house. in the Western Reserve and one of the best of Ohio's early placesof SPECIFIC DATE(S) (If Applicable and Known) AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE (Check One or More as Appropriate) of Sylvester Baldwin for the purpose of forming a church. Four years sermon preached in Atwater by a minister.

Soon after, he began to hold 1838-1841 REGISTER fine repair.It has long been considered one of the very finest churches invoke divine blessing for the work about to begin.It was Deacon Baldwin's Art RECEIVED the use of the land to be annually applied for the support of the church. Campen, Richard N., Architecture of the Western Reserve, 1800-1900, The DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY DEFINING THE CENTER POINT OF A PHOPERTY OF LESS THAN TEN ACRES

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

FORM PREPARED BY Jan. 1973 STREET AND NUMBER: CITY OR TOWN: NATIONAL REGISTER VERIFICATION I hereby certify that this property is included in the tional Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law Nationa l Register. 89-665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion evaluated according to the c-iteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service. The recommended GP0 931-894 Degrees COUNTY Name ORGANIZATION Seconds LATITUDE STATE Title LONGITUDE DATE Columbus CORNER Local Degrees Minutes Seconds REGISTER CODE Minutes Ohio Historical Society RECEIVED Gretchen Klimoski As the designated State Liaison Officer for the Na- LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES 9. MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES NAME AND TITLE: in the National Register and certify that it has been 1982 Velma Ave NATIONAL 10. GEOGRAPHICAL DATA T2.

STATE LIAISON OFFICER CERTIFICATION level of significance of this nomination is: less than one acre Frary, I.T., Early Homes of Ohio, Dover Publications, New York, 1970. Sesquicentennial Anniversary, 1818-1968, The Atwater Congregational Church, Atwater, Ohio, 1968. APPROXIMA TE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: FEB 15 1975 ATTEST Ohio Director, Office of Archeology and Histotic Preservation 2.21.77 0.39 REF #73001517 2.15.73. 2277 FEB 28 1973 Maps ARCHEOLOGIST HISTORIAN Entered Re-submit Send-back KEEPER TECH REVIEW Photos National Register write-up ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN CONTROL REVIEW REVIEW UNIT CHIEF Federal Register entry WORKING NUMBER BRANCH CHIEF Portage Shull 2/16/73 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF 1 'E INTFRIOR POrtAgE, Ohio STATE PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER Loc.

Title: Atuater Congregationel Church OHIO Form 10-301 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (July 1969) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER STREET AND NUM BER: 1237 State Route 183 FEB 15 1973 U.S.G.S. (7.5') Atwater Quadrangle TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. Property broundaries where required. 2. North arrow. 3. Latitude and longitude reference.

1960 133 039 Atwater COUNTY NATIONAL STATE DATE Portage REQUIREMENTS REGISTER Ohio 1:24000 CODE COMMON: SCALE: SOURCE: NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY MAP FORM CITY OR TOWN: (Type all entries-attach toor enclose with map) RECEIVED AND/OR HISTORIC: The Congregational Church of Atwater LOCATION NAME FEB Atwater Congregational Church MAP REFERENCE ATWATER QUADRANGLE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Atwater Congregational DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 7.5 MINUTE SERIES (TOPOGRAPHIC) UNITED STATES ATWATER, OHIO the ohio historical society/ohio historical center/ columbus, ohio 432ll/telephone (614) 469-4663 February 12, 1973 Dr. William J. Murtagh, Keeper Washington, D. C.

20240 The reasons for the EMERGENCY classification are as follows: Cuyahoga County landmarks (Old Stone Presbyterian Church, Saint John's Episcopal Church, and Detroit Avenue Bridge) is that it Mound Cemetery Mound, Washington County. This is a complete Barber, O. C., Barn #1, Summit County: This building is in under HUD, FHA application #236 $8 million for a senior citizens these properties. in Cleveland. National Park Service REGISTER Commissioners are discussing its replacement. NATIONAL Dear Bill: Cuyahoga County landmarks as possible prior to the annual con- subject properties have been notified of our intent to Register National Register of Historic Places emergency for the reason that this application has long been home at this site.Present plans call for razing the building.

revision of a former application.It is re-submitted as an There is a citizens movement organized to preserve the barn for National Register of Historic Places application forms.These delayed for registration due to corrections required to the earlier applications were approved by the Ohio Historic Site Preservation version of the form. vention in l973 of the National Trust for Historic Preservation Department of Interior Advisory Board at its last meeting January 26,1973.Owmers of Iam transmitting herewith as EMERGENCIES seven (7) completed 18th and C Streets, N.W. Interstate 7l and 17th Avenue FEB 15 1973 Henry County Courthouse. This building is in jeopardy. County These Dr. William J.

Murtagh February 12, 1973 It is deemed infeasible to include all, including this application, Atwater Congregational Church, Portage County: While this structure is not in immediate jeopardy, prompt registration of the building would focus immediate attention to its values, and convention in Cleveland, October, 1973. Enel: Completed National Register Applications for Detroit Avenue Bridge, Cuyahoga County FEB 1 5 1973 Old Stone Presbyterian Church, Cuyahoga County Atwater Congregational Church, Portage County Sincerely, Director REGISTER NATIONAL DRP/mu Daniel R. Porter RECEIVED Saint John's Episcopal Church, Cuyahoga County in a single district. Barber, O.C., Barn #1, Summit County Mound Cemetery Mound, Washington County Henry County Courthouse, Henry County would cause attention to be given to it during the National Trust FEB 2 3 1973 Mr. Daniel B, Porter Hon. Robert Taft, Jr.

Colmbus, Ohio 43211 NRowland: mm Location STATE PHR Name Cuyahoga County 2/23/73 Also Notified Date Entered Marietta Portage County ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER Hon.William B.Saxbe Atwater Congregational Church Director, Northeast Region Detroit Avenue Bridge Cleveland Saint John's Episcopal Church Old Stone Presbyterian Church Washington County Rocky River - Lakevood State Liaison Officer Dizector Atwater