Nomination for Omar Chapel

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 (Rev. 8-86) OCT 5 1987 Register. L (Form 10-900a). Type all entries. 1. Name of Property 2. Location N/Anot for publication city, town [X vicinity State Classification Ownership of Property Category of Property XX private XX building(s) _structures _ objects Name of related multiple property listing: Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National Register State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, I hereby certify that this State or Federal agency and bureau Signature of commenting or other official 1, hereby, certify that this property is: J See continuation sheet. determined not eligible for the other, (explain:) 44807 147 Noncontributing site Attica Date RECEIVED public-local public-Federal public-State NATIONAL district Ohio National Register.

Total Registration Form National Register of Historic Places National Park Service Certification historic name Omar Chapel National Park Service other names/site number Second Regular Baptist Church of Reed Township removed from the National Register. United States Department of the Interior This form is for use in nominating orrequesting determinations of eligibility for individual properties or districts.See instructions in Guidelines entered in the National Register. Signature of certifying official determined eligible for the National Number of Resources within Property zip code Date of Action for Completing National Register Forms (National Register Bulletin 16). Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box orby entering the requested information.

If an item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, styles, materials, and areas of significance, enter only the categories and subcategories listed in the instructions. For additional space use continuation sheets Xnomination Lrequest for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the In my opinion, the property Register. See continuation sheet. Signature of the Keeper street & number National Register of Historic Places and meets theprocedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. 6. Function or Use 7. Description Materials (enter categories from instructions) Describe present and historic physical appearance. the three bay facade; paneled doors, retaining their original hardware, are in galvanized metal, which is as old as can be remembered.

The building has containing bow back side chairs of primitive workmanship, believed to have The reed organ, coal oil chandelier, and side lights with reflectors have been material. tin foundation roof sandstone Architectural Classification The interior remains virtually unchanged from its original appearance with Greek Revival a full portico with triangular pediment.Four square Tuscan columns divide See continuation sheet side stand which is currently used for visitor registration. RELIGION/religious structure interior was replastered and painted in April 1984. (enter categories from instructions) never had a steeple. Exterior repairs have been made with no alteration to the original appearance.

removed.Handmade fabric window shades were added in the early 20th century Historic Functions (enter categories from instructions) Current Functions (enter categories from instructions) southwest corner for the installation of a stove, which has since been woven smooth weave of wool one time, carpet also covered the the first and third bays.The side elevations each feature four pairsof of long pews facing the pulpit.To the north is a raised choir corner been locally made.At the center of the platform is the original pulpit which walls - other - holds the original 1855 Bible. Ingrain carpet, dating to the mid-late 19th an architrave and a frieze which extends the length of both sides of the century, remains on the platform and choir corner. The carpet is a tightly front of the main floor.) Nineteenth century tin offering plates rest on a was repaired in 1984.

The porch floor was replaced in 1984, using new weatherboard wood after the congregation had disbanded.Those shades were replaced in 1984 with The porch foundation was repointed in 1984.The southernmost porch column The interior contains long center pews and shorter side pews which are fitted commercially-made shades which are nearly identical to the originals.The Omar Chapel is a rectangular Greek Revival building having a gable roof and pairs are separated by wooden mullions.T Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

Areas of Significance (enter categories from instructions) Period of Significance 1843 - c. 1860s Significant Person State significance of property, and justify criteria, criteria considerations, and areas and periods of significance noted above. remainder of the early settlement period in this area of the county, being the of Omar, which was the first settlement in Reed Township, Seneca County, and a into 89 lots, once contained two church buildings, a post office, a general store, a frame and later a brick schoolhouse, a blacksmith shop, a tavern, a building seventeen years later, the chapel was used for all religious services 22, 1971. Township. It has never had interior electrical lights, water, or fuel lines.

1843 Architecture Unknown Exploration/Settlement Architect/Builder Cultural Affiliation supporting a classical entablature and pedimented overhang extending from the Significant Dates original United Brethren Church on Eden and Liberty Streets in Attica (now a community declined in the second half of the nineteenth century when it was residence),and the First Baptist Church in Attica (both greatly altered),as only surviving building from the early/mid-19th century community of Omar. well as the Dr.Bowen House and the Union Church building in the hamlet of livery which was a part of the underground railroad, and a race track.The In addition to being the only remaining building from the former community.

gable roof.These Greek Revival features combine to create a simple but Omar Chapel was erected in 1843 as the Second Regular Baptist Church of Reed Omar Chapel is significant as an excellent example of Greek Revival bypassed by the railroad.Until the Methodists built their own church West Lodi in a state of disrepair). XX See continuation sheet KX locally Applicable National Register Criteria Criteria Considerations (Exceptions) architecture, retaining a high degree of integrity, in Reed Township, Seneca Omar Chapel is the only unaltered building of its time period in Reed statewide nationally County.Additionally,Omar Chapel is significant as a well-preserved It is the purest example of Greek Revival architecture in the vicinity of Reed

The rest of the file

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

Major Bibliographical References XX See continuation sheet preliminary determination of individual listing (36 CFR 67) Primary location of additional data: XX State historic preservation office Other State agency previously determined eligible by the National Register recorded by Historic American Buildings Survey # recorded by Historic American Engineering Record # 10. Geographical Data 4,55,3 3,4,2 The boundary includes the entire city lot that has historically been associated with the 11. Form Prepared By name/title Larry A. Lepard/member date January, 1987 street & number 114 E. Seminary St. state OH zip code 44857 property. University Northing Zone Easting Other Federal agency Local government Specify repository: UTM References Boundary Justification Verbal Boundary Description has been requested designated a National Historic Landmark Please see continuation sheet.

Previous documentation on file (NPS): previously listed in the National Register 3|43|600] A 1,7 organization Omar Chapel Association city or town Norwalk OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior Omar Chapel, Attica vicinity, Seneca County, OH Section number - Township, for the sum of five dollars, a parcel of the graveyard to "erect a under the rules and regulations of said Society, but not to be at any time furnishings include the pulpit, locally-made pews including side pews which choir, ingrain carpet on the platform and the choir corner, door latches, and pulpit Bible dating to 1855. club), and, since 1953, the Omar Chapel Association. At no time tourists. Page Church." National Park Service Continuation Sheet National Register of Historic Places has the Attica church used or maintained the property.

chapel in unbroken succession for at 1east one hundred years.The chapel is The Second Regular Baptist Church of Reed Township conducted services in the The chapel is now used annually for Memorial Day services, which serve as the building has since been maintained continuously bya succession of concerned map was an undivided one acre section reserved for a cemetery either verbal or written shall be necessary to obtain admittance into said Meeting House for a place of Worship for said Society...to be at all times Bennitt conveyed to the Trustees of the Second Regular Baptist Church of Reed Baptist Church of Attica on May 13,1911.On May 29,1911,the Reed Township used by themselves nor let out to others so as that any pass word or words On November 11,1842,Thomas Bennitt filed in the office of the Seneca County are fitted into notches in the walls and window sills, bow back chairs for the was never a "church cemetery.") On December 30,1842,Thomas and Mehitibe11 Recorder a plat of a four acre graveyard on his farm.Included on the plat NPS Form 10-000-a The chapel was constructed of timber from the virgin forest nearby.

The groups, including the Women's Relief Corps, The 1917 Club (a rural women's structure itself and its furnishings remain as they were originally.Original also used for funerals on rare occasions, and is open at all times to congregation sold the Omar Chapel to the Attica church for one dollar.The OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 Omar Chapel, Attica vicinity, Seneca County, OH Continuation sheet #2 of 3 Item number 9 Deed Records of Seneca County. Volume 13, page 15. - Volume 23, pages 45-46. Volume 169, page 334. N.B.: Ethel Kaufman (1892-1986) and Alice Martin (1892-1984), natives of the mar community, were descended from the Page Inventory-Nomination Form MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES date entered in the Omar Chapel as a church. Kaufman, Ethel.Oral history and correspondence to Mrs.Ralph W.Brown.

National Park Service National Register of Historic Places have been the last surviving persons to have worshiped earliest settlers of Reed Township and are believed to recelved United States Department of the Interior Martin, Alice (Mrs.B.E.)."Lest We Forget." Xeroxed monograph.1974. For NPS use only NPS Form 10-900-a Ohio), January I, 1956. February 28, 1976. Company, 1880, pp. 578-585. at The 1917 Club. 1984. Washburn, Ruth. "History of the First Baptist Church of Attica -- 145 Years." The Attica Hub (Attica, Ohio), September 25, 1986. (3-82) NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 United States Department of the Interior Omar Chapel, Attica vicinity, Seneca County, OH #3 of 3 Item number established by Thomas Bennitt aforesaid, on the North East half of Range seventeen, being the Township of Reed aforesaid, bounded bered 15. and 16.

of said second division of said Grave Yard, as by reference to the Record of the Plat of said Grave Yard, in the Volume 23, pages 45-46 Page Verbal boundary description Continuation sheet recelved (3-82) Inventory-Nomination Form Deed Records of Seneca County date entered Recorders Office of said Seneca County will more fully appear.

National Register of Historic Places GEOGRAPHICAL DATA National Park Service 15.and l6.of the second division of the Grave Yard laid off and on the North by an Alley (,) East by the Columbus and Sandusky quarter of Section twenty three Township three For NPS use only Turnpike Road, South by an Alley and West by the said Lots num- All of a Lot or parcel of Land situated East of the Lots numbered WASO Form - 177 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ("R" June 1984) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Date Due: _ nomination by person or local government - REJECT Jappeal - sample Reviewer . _ see continuation sheet _ technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification Public Acquisition 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6.

Representation in Existing Surveys 7. Description - unaltered - original site - moved ruins Accessible yes dates Ownership Category completeness resubmission alterations/integrity Status unexposed Discipline Recom./Criteria fair deteriorated boundary selection clarity Substantive Review: Seneca County Omar Chapel Condition owner objection Reviewer's comments: Working No. summary paragraph Nomination returned for: Has this property been determined eligible? Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance NR decision Federal Agency: Present Use Check one excellent 11-5-87 Jrequest RETURN ACCEPT good 87001982 Fed. Reg. Date: 2484 8. Significance Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) & summary paragraph J completeness J applicable criteria J relating significance to the resource justification of exception J other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10.

Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property Verbal boundary description and justification 11. Form Prepared By The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: State Historic Preservation Officer signature - Date . - Phone: - GPO 918-450 Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet Builder/Architect title state Signed context local national Maps UTM References Photographs clarity justification of areas checked 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to relationship of integrity to significance Specific dates Quadrangle name Areas of Significance-Check and justify below Period HONORED DEAD OMAR CHAPEL Reed Iwp. (Omar Chapel) 408 St. Rt. 4 South 305 N. Main St., Attica, OH Front Facade looking west #l of nine photographs October 1986 Neg.

on file at his home Attica vic., Seneca Co., OH 2nd Reg. Baptist Church of Photo: John Covert Reed Iwp. (Omar Chapel) 408 St. Rt. 4 South 305 N. Main St., Attica, Oh #2 of nine photographs Phogographer: John Covert 2nd Reg. Baptist Church of Neg. on file at his home Attica vic., Seneca Co., OH October 1986 Reed Twp. (Omar Chapel) 408 St. Rt. 4 South 305 N. Main St., Attica, OH #3 of nine photographs Neg. on file at his home 2nd Reg. Baptist Church of Photographer: John Covert Rear & S. side looking NE Attica vic., Seneca Co., OH October 1986 Reed Twp. (Omar Chapel) 408 St. Rt. 4 South #4 of nine photographs 2nd Reg. Baptist Church of Photographer: John Coveett Neg. on file at his home Attica vic., Seneca Co., OH October 1986 305 N. Main St., Attica, OH Int. view of pulpit & choir Reed Iwp. (Omar Chapel) 408 St. Rt. 4 South 305 N. Main St., Attica, OH Int. view from pulpit look E.

Photographer: John Covert #5 of nine photographs 2nd Reg. Baptist Church of Neg. on file at his home October 1986 Attica vic., Seneca Co., OH Reed Iwp. (Omar Chapel) 408 St. Rt. 4 South 305 N. Main St., Attica, OH Int. from pulpit looking NE 2nd Reg. Baptist Church of #6 of nine photographs Neg. on file at his hime October 1986 Photographer: John Covert Attica vic., Seneca Co., OH Reed Iwp., (Omar Chapel) 408 St. Rt. 4 South 305 N. Main St., Attica, OH #7 of nine photographs October 1986 Neg. on file at his home Photographer: John Covert Int. from pulpit looking SE 2nd Reg. Baptist Church of Attica Vic., Seneca Co., OH Reed Iwp. (Omar Chapel) 408 St. Rt. 4 South Attica vic., Seneca Co., BH 305 N. Main St., Attica, OH Photographer: John Covert 1843 pews notched into sill #8 of nine photographs October 1986 Neg. on file at his home 2nd Reg. Baptist Church of Reed Iwp. (Omar Chapel) 408 St.

Rt. 4 South 305 N. Main St-, Attica, OH #9 of nine photographs Detail of pews and floor Photographer: John Covert Neg. on file at his home October 1986 2nd Reg. Baptist Church of Attica vic., Seneca Co., OH CENTERTON QUADRANGLE UNITED STATES CENTERTON, OHIO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 7.5 MINUTE SERIES (TOPOGRAPHIC) 1985 Velma Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43211 September 30, 1987 Ms. Carol Shul1, Chief P.O. Box 37127 Washington, D.C. 20013-7127 Scott, William, House W. Ray Luce WRL : ael Lorain Wyandot SOCIETY County Enclosures 614/297-2470 Seneca Highland Hamilton HISTORICAL OHIO New Submissions Sincerely. Ohio Historic Preservation Office West End Elementary Omar Chapel notification procedures have been followed for these new submissions.

Dear Carol: National Park Service National Register of Historic Places State Historic Preservation Office Central School Enclosed are 5 new National Register nominations.All of the appropriate SINCE 1885 Department of the Interior Please contact me if you have any questions. Gerrard, Stephen A., Mansion OCT