Nomination for Congregational Church of Christ

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 - County NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY DATE (Type all entries - complete applicable sections) AND/ OR HISTORIC: West Lorain and North Main Streets 13 - Charles E.

Mosher TO THE PUBLIC * Building - Unoccupied - In Process - Preservation work PRESENT USE (Check One or More as Appropriate) - Transportation / Comments - Other (Specity) OWNER'S NAME: LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC: 308 2nd Street REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE OF SURVEY: DATE OF SURVEY: X Federal - Local Washington Elyria 1957-58 039 093 Lorain Oberlin Site ACCESSIBLE Commercial LOCATION Religious Ohio NATIONAL Both OWNERSHIP CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY District REGISTER Government STATUS Private DATE Entertainment Structure CODE Military Park Educational Agricultural Private Residence Museum Public Yes: COMMON: CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: Scientific Being Considered Public Acquisition: Industrial OWNER OF PROPERTY The First Church in Oberlin STREET AND NUMBER: Restricted Object CITY OR TOWN: (Check One) AUG 1 3 1974 NAME ENTRY NUMBER DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS: APR 2 31974 - Historic American Buildings Survey Library of Congress The Congregational Church of Christ at Oberlin * Excellent - Deteriorated - Ruins - Unexposed CONDITION .

- Unaltered X] Original Site DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (if known) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

There is a wooden cornice, but the frieze is merely suggested panes were replaced with colored glass, and then later restored central stair to the loft removed, and a permanent pulpit installed projects a great feeling of the authenticity of the early period. of either the 1873 or 1909 condition. APR 2 3 1974 DESCRIPTION REG with clear glass again, carefully made antique-looking. The tower is in two boxlike stages with heavy cornices and corner pilasters; Moved century with iron posts. The 66 foot interior span is achieved by Greek Revival style.The foundations and lintels are sandstone. span the interior balcony.

In the late nineteenth century the clear The interior has a horseshoe gallery, originally supported by remodeled in 1909 and now called James Brand House, this building rebuilt.as church offices that the interior has none of the integrity Fair in place of the earlier movable one. Nevertheless, the interior massive trusses 2o feet high. The original box pews are present. wooden Doric columns that were replaced late in the nineteenth the top is an irregular parapet. would logically have been included in a district with the Church. bya modern narthex in 1966.Built as a chapel in 1873,subsequently (Check One) The church was connected to the parish house to the north The west end (pulpit and choir area) was remodeled in 1927,a Good This is a large brick church building, 70 x 100 feet, in the plain pilaster strips with no decoration.

There are three doors However, the front portion has been so completely gutted and The exterior is severely simple.The three-part facade has broad in brick on the side elevations.The five side windows are tall and NATIO PERIOD (Check One or More as Appropriate) - 15th Century SPECIFIC DATE(S) (If Applicable and Known) * Education X Political - Urban Planning - Prehistoric - Engineering * Religion/Phi.. - Other (Specify) - Industry - Science - Landscape - Sculpture - Literature - Theater - Transportation STATEMENT OF

Statement of significance

The First Church in Oberlin is one of the most important Greek Revival churches in northern Ohio, both for its historical associations with Oberlin College, and the extreme simplicity and excellence of proportion in its design. In fact it is the only build- of the society. 1834, and was an integral part of Oberlin College from the begin- The preachers were faculty members; students were required to attend. As the size of the town population and the student body made a large permanent meeting place imperative, the church Construction was not completed until 1844, and the tower built in 1845. The plan was provided by an architect from Boston, a friend One incident will illustrate the community involvement of the church and college.

When twenty-nine Oberlin citizens were included the superintendent of the Sunday School and the professor in triumph to Oberlin, the welcoming ceremonies were held at 1842-1844 Commerce Conservation Military Communications Architecture losophy Agriculture Aboriginal SIGNIFICANCE Invention Social/Human- Pre-Columbian Music of Moral Philosophy.When they were later released and returned The Congregational Church of Christ at Oberlin was founded in the Meeting House. but as a Meeting House, a true community center for all members supervisor was Thomas Porter Turner, a carpenter from Vermont. arrested in 1859 for assisting the escape of a fugitive slave, they 2 3 1974 REGISTER ing surviving from the pre-Civil War days of Oberlin College. a meeting house." The cornerstone was laid on June 17, 1842.

NATIONAL itarian RECEIVED society voted in February,1842,"to take measures for building Art Robert S. Fletcher, A History of Oberlin College (Oberlin, 1943), II, 572-575.

The rest of the file

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

GEOGRAPHICAL DATA LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY DEFINING THE LENTER POIN1 ÓF A PROPERTY OF LESS THAN TÉN ACRES APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: APR 2 3 1974 FORM PREPARED BY STREET AND NUMBER: CITY OR TOWN: STATE LIAISON OFFICER CERTIFICATION NATIONAL REGISTER VERIFICATION As the designated State Liaison Officer for the Na- I hereby certify that this property is included in the tional Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion Nationa l Register. in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the c-iteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service. The recommended Director, Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation level of significance of this nomination is: * U.S.

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1973-729-147/1442 3-l 039 Ohio Local Seconds LONGITUDE ORGANIZATION COUNTY CORNER 51-56. Name DATE STATE NATIONAL Cleveland CODE LATITUDE ATTEST: REGISTER MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Western Reserve Historical Society Degrees Minutes Seconds January 1974 less than one NAME AND TITLE: Eric Johannesen, Preservationist Degrees Minutes Title Frances Juliette Hosford, A Living Stone (n.p, n.d.), 19-24. RECEIVED STATE Ohia CONTROL REVIEW HISTOR IAN Send-back _ AUG 1 3 1974 INT: 1538-73 1974 KEEPER Entered Re-submit MAPS WORKING NUMBER TECH REVIEW 4.25 REVIEW UNIT CHIEF BRANCH CHIEF 74001554 Lorain 4.23.74.660 PHOTOS 4 ARCHEOLOGIST Federal Register entry Cole UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FORM 10-301 A NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NAME AUG 1 3 1974 2. LOCATION 3. PHOTO REFERENCE APR 2 3 1974 4. IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION, ETC.

GPO 932-009 Lorain Oberlin COUNTY TOWN Ohio COMMON Western Reserve DATE Looking northwest. The First Church in Oberlin STATE PHOTO CREDIT of Christ in Oberlin PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER West Lorain and North Main Streets REGISTE East front, showing adjacent James Brand House and modern narthex, The Congregational Church NEGATIVE FILED AT PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM AND/OR HISTORIC STREET AND NUMBER (6/72) NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES E. Johannesen (Type all entries-attach to or en close with photograph) NUMERIC CODE (Assigned by NPS) January UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FORM 10-301 A NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NAME AUG 1 3 1974 2. LOCATION 3. PHOTO REFERENCE 4. IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION, ETC.

APR 2 3 1974 #274 PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER GPO 932-009 Lorain Oberlin TOWN DATE Ohio COMMON REGIST COUNTY STATE PHOTO CREDIT Christ in Oberlin January 1974 Historical Society West Lorain and North Main Streets AND/OR HISTORIC PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM Interior, showing pulpit and choir gallery, looking West. The First Church in Oberlin NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES (Type all entries - attach to or en close with photograph) E. Johannesen STREET AND NUMBER (6/72) NATIONAI NEGATIVE FILED AT UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FORM 10-301 A NAME NUMERIC CODE (Assigned by NPS) AUG 1 3 1974 2. LOCATION 3. PHOTO REFERENCE 4. IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION, ETC. West end and south elevation, looking Northeast.

APR 2 3 1974 GP0 932-009 Lorain TOWN Oberlin Historical Society Ohio COUNTY COMMON Western Reserve DATE NATIONAL The Congregational Church West Lorain and North Main Streets STATE The First Church in Oberlin of Christ in Oberlin PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER AND/OR HISTORIC PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM PHOTO CREDIT NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES NEGATIVE FILED AT January 1974 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE E. Johannesen (6/72) (Type all entries-attach to or enclose with photograph) STREET AND NUMBER REGISTEI RECEIVED FORM 10-301 A 1. NAME NUMERIC CODE (Assigned by NPS) AUG 1 3 1974 2. LOCATION STREET AND NUMBER 3. PHOTO REFERENCE 4. IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION, ETC.

APR 2 3 1974 GPO 932-009 Lorain Historical Society TOWN Ohio Oberlin DATE COUNTY STATE Western Reserve COMMON The Congregational Church PHOTO CREDIT REGISTE NATIONAL West Lorain and West Main Streets The First Church in Oberlin NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Christ in Oberlin NEGATIVE FILED AT AND/OR HISTORIC PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM January 1974 Interior, showing gallery, looking East. (Type all entries-attach to or enclose with photograph) PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE (6/72) E. Johannesen Form No. 10-301 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Rev. 7-72 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY MAP FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY (Type all entries - attach to or enclose with map) AUG 1 3 1974 NAME STREET AND NUM BER: CITY OR TOWN: MAP REFERENCE U. S. G. S.

Oberlin Quadrangle 1:24, 000 APR 2 3 1974 TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. Property broundaries where required. 2. North arrow. 3. Latitude and longitude reference. * U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1973-729-148/1441 3-1 093 039 Lorain COUNTY Oberlin REGISTER LOCATION Ohio DATE CODE REQUIREMENTS NATIONAL STATE SCALE: COMMON: SOURCE: 1969 AND/OR HISTORIC: West Lorain and North Main Streets ENTRY NUMBER The First Church in Oberlin RECEIVED UNITED STATES OBERLIN QUADRANGLE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR OBERLIN, OHIO The First Church 82° 13' 05* DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCE: OHIO-LORAIN CO ROAD CLASSIFICATION 7.5 MINUTE SERIES (TOPOGRAPHIC) DIVISION OF CEOLOGICAL SURVEY STATE OF OHIO Oberlin Potter, Carl, Hound The Ohio Historical Society Hon. Clarence J. Brown, Jr.

Coluabus, Ohio Regional Director, Midwest Region Location 43211 STATE 8/16/74 Name Oberlin MMott/mef Lorain County Congregational Church of Christ Orrville vicinity Barnett-Hoover Log House State Historic Preservation Officer Mechanicsburg vieinity OHIO Also Notified Champaign County Wayne County Interstate 7l at 17th Ave. ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER AUG 1 g 1974 Date Entered Hon.John F. Saibezling