Nomination for First Presbyterian Church

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

CMB No. 1024-0018 FEB 0 5 1990 National Park Service This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations of eligibility for individual properties or districts. See instructions in Guidelines and areas of significance, enter only the categories and subcategories listed in the instructions. For additional space use continuation sheets (Form 10-900a). Type all entries. 1. Name of Property 2. Location street & number Jnot for publication city, town zip code 43545 3. Classification Ownership of Property Category of Property L*private X building(s) Jpublic-local _ sites -public-Federal _ structures _ objects _ Total Name of related multiple property listing: Number of contributing resources previously 4.

State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, I hereby certify that this National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional jequirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. Signature of certifying official State or Federal agency and bureau Signature of commenting or other official 5. National Park Service Certification I, hereby, certify that this property is: Xentered in the National Register. _Jdetermined eligible for the National Register. Soe continuation sheet. Jdetermined not eligible for the removed from the National Register.

other, (explain:) Noncontributing code Napoleon district public-State state Ohio National Register of Historic Places Registration Form Date National Register First Presbyterian Church historic name 303 West Washington county Henry Number of Resources within Property other names/site number N/A See continuation sheet. United States Department of the Interior Date of Action listed in the National Register .O vicinity Entered in the for Completing National Register Forms (National Register Bulletin 16).

Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box or by entering the requested information.Ifan item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, styles, materials, X nomination request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the Psignature of the Keeper In my opinion, the property meets does not meet the National Register criteria.see continuation sheet. 6. Function or Use Historic Functions (enter categories from instructions) Current Functions (enter categories from instructions) 7. Description Materials (enter categories from instructions) other _ Describe present and historic physical appearance. The First Presbyterian Church of Napoleon, Ohio (the county seat of Henry_County) is located at the southwest corner of West Washington and Webster Streets.

The area Napoleon's commercial district is slowly expanding in the direction of the church. West Washington is a wide, pleasant, tree-shaded street lined with substantjal late nineteenth and early twentieth century houses. The First Presbyterian Church is a remarkably eclectic combination of the historic Though basically square in plan, the building appears to include no flat surfaces or hip, gable and pyramid tile roof with sky lights, supported by long narrow knee jumble of architectural details together, creating a striking local landmark. (2) tower is entered through a deeply recessed tudor arch doorway, further accentuated with a wedge shaped (voussoirs) stone surround, including a keystone. (4,5) Tudor style lanterns are mounted on both sides of the doorway and a date stone is located near the base of the buttress, left of the concrete steps which lead to the entrance.

(6) The solid wooden double doors are covered with vertical tongue and groove boards and the door. Above the door is a blind transom with spandrels on both sides of a circular framed trefoil. (4) [x] See continuation sheet Sandstone Wood Craftsman Exterior Religion/Church walls foundation Architectural Classification Terra Cotta (enter categories from instructions) Gothic being the most significant). architectural styles that influenced the Arts and Crafts and First Presbyterian Church, Napoleon, Ohio series of niche-like windows and doors, two pagoda shaped towers and a combination The most dominant feature of the buildings north facing facade is a massive square bell tower which also houses the main entrance. (3) Buttressed on three sides, the are hung with large decorative wrought-iron hinges that extend nearly the width of roof OMB Approval No.

1024-0018 Above the door surround is a small rectangular, niche-like stained glass window, and tracery effect. (7,3) The east side of the tower includes a small window at ground level and two tudor section of eave is supported by seven brackets placed in a semi-curricular position. the east side of the tower a castellated appearance. (11,8) The bell tower, like the entire roof of the building, is covered with terra cotta The turret spire is terminated with a rounded finial, which corresponds with the pattern of the roof tile, while the bell tower spire includes a large decorated style finial. (11) The other major feature of the facade is one of two huge flared gables, an apparent is mounted at the ridge point of the gable. (12) The wide overhanging gable partially shelters a large pointed arch stained glass window with ornamental mullions or tracery.

The window is covered with rectangular paned storm windows. (7) The remaining part of the facade consists of two small set back areas with single a pressed metal flared pent roof door - Small shed and hip roof sections fill the space where the central hip roof and the space between the first and second setbacks. (15) sections meet. (13) casement windows at ground level, a round stained glass window at the second floor level and a round louvered opening near the peak of the gable. A large stone chimney is located at the ridge line. (13) NPS Form 10-000 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Section number _ arch stained glass windows just above the first floor. A turret is corbelled from the tower above the windows.

(8) It protrudes through the roof where a rounded The wide overhanging eaves of the bell tower are supported by long, narrow knee turrets three lower rectangular lights from three round arch upper lights, giving allmark of Wachter buildings. (7) The gable extends from the central portion of the buildings hip roof. The gable ends dissect buttresses and are supported by metal and the soffit is made of tongue and groove panelling. A small rounded crest tudor arch windows. (13) A second entrance is located in the northwest corner of supported with brackets. (14) Tudor lanterns are mounted on either side of the west facing parapet gable meet.

(13) Stepped planters (added recently) fill the A small rectangular opening with stone lintel and sill is located above the pent The parapet gabled east elevation, which is a later addition (1961 ), includes two Page First Presbyterian Church, Napoleon, Ohio Henry County Continuation Sheet National Register of Historic Places larger six-sided spire of the bell stone muilions separate the First Presbyterian Church, Napoleon, Ohio United States Department of the Interior National Park Service elevation is filled with a small enclosed entrance with shallow standing seam hip roof, a single wooden door with a small pointed arch window and a single stained Like the facade, the two dominant features of the east elevation are a smaller arch stained glass window with stylized tracery in each door. The east entrance is also lighted with tudor style lanterns.

(1,18) Paired, round arch stained glass windows with stone sills are located above the off the east tower entrance. (18) Three one-over-one stained glass windows are located at the ground level of the the buildings facade, as is the pointed arch stained glass window. (1) The classically inspired interior of the Napoleon First Presbyterian Church provides a fascinating contrast with the buildings unconventional and eclectic exterior. The main focus of the interior is a large sanctuary (19) built on the Akron Plan, defined by large tudor arches with decorative molding, supported by combination A large eight-sided, vaulted ceiling is divided by a decorative plaster cornice and the upper coved ceiling, which forms a dome crowned by an eight-sided stained glass skylight. (21,22) National Register of Historic Places Henry County Continuation Sheet NPS Form.

10-900e Section number - The south or rear elevation of the building actually has five sides and includes at least six bays at ground level, the second and third floors. (16) The ground level windows are round arched with stone sills. All have stained glass. The space entrance tower and a large gable extending from the central hip roof. As with the main entrance bell tower, concrete steps lead to a deeply recessed tudor arch buttressed on two sides, repeating the deeply recessed appearance of the main spaces (alvoces) surround the central area of the sanctuary and are separated and to the tudor arches themselves further enhance these spaces. between the east tower entrance and the east facing portion of the five sided rear Interior Page round and square pilaster corinthian Arched ceilings which correspond First Presbyterian Church, Napoleon, Ohio NPS Form.

10-800 OME Approvai NO 10240018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Tounge, offices and Sunday school rooms can be concealed by opening a large red velvet curtain which hangs across the arch. It includes a double choir loft and a small equipment room concealed by a Gothic Two massive Gothic arch stained glass windows, with stylized tracery (mentioned in finely detailed stairway with square (classically inspired) newel post, heavy round handrail and delicate turned balusters, leads to the second floor. (27) Other decorative details which attest to the craftsmanship of the interior include double brass wall sconces mounted on opposite sides of the large Gothic arch windows, a Gothic arch door which opens to the ladder leading to the bell tower, and inlaid tile side entrance and brass tudor arch doorplates. The building has undergone two separate remodelings.

The 1961 remodeling included an enlargement of the chancel area, including additional kitchen space beneath the cleaning, new glazing and reinstallation of all stained glass windows includina skylights, repair and painting of all sanctuary walls, stripping and refinishing all remarkable degree of integrity, with nearly all original architectural features Henry County Page National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet remaining unaltered. border. (24) Section number 7 The west room provides additional seating capacity, (20) while the east room consists of a Sunday school reception area or lounge and church offices. A shallow Like the east and west alcoves, the chancel area is entered through a tudor arch. Woodwork, including pews, is constructed of cherry, pine and maple. Pews include decorative quatrefoils, encircling an English style cross and finials.

(26) chancel, a ministers parlor-study, a complete kitchen remodeling, a complete basement remodeling, rearrangement of the steps at the Webster Street entrance, one alcove. The 1986 remodeling included cleaning the exterior stone, removal, Despite these extensive projects the exterior and interior of the building retains a Two alcoves (previously mentioned) are located on opposite sides of the sanctuary. the exterior description),highlight the west and north walls of the First Presbyterian Church, Napoleon, Ohio United States Department of the Interior National Park Service First Presbyter an church Napoleon, Henry County, Ohio 1. north elevation ary Fran Meekiso north and east elevations 3. main entrance 5. main entrance surround and door date stone east elevation, bell tower 9. turret and eaves 13. north and west elevations 15.

planters south elevation Page Section number Henry County Continuation Sheet National Register of Historic Places small entrance east gable Please note:the name of the of photographs and 11.bell tower and turret camera facing sw AursttPresbyterian Church Archives OMB Approvai No. 1024-0018 once. Photograph List United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Section number - 17. south elevation 19. sanctuary sancutary, east gable window 21. dome and north gable window 25. north gable stained glass window handrail and balasters 27. pew dome Page pulpit Continuation Sheet east elevation National Register of Historic Places camera facing nw OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 23. reception area and Sunday school rooms Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

Certitying official has considered the significance of this property in relation to other properties: Areas of Significance (enter categories from instructions) Architect/Builder State significance of property, and justity criteria, criteria considerations, and areas and periods of significance noted above. Of local significance, the First Presbyterian Church of Napoleon, Ohio is nominated The main reason for the new building was to provide additional space for the growing the church in the community. 2 seat, whose growing prosperity and affluence was reflected both in the surrounding delegate to the state convention for Presidential Candidate, William McKinley, M. Cora Trowbridge, owner of a barrel stave factory, Judge Tyler, who donated the land, Windmill Manufacturing. 3 1901-1903 distinction.

Architecture Significant Person Significant Dates unusual and distinctive Arts and Crafts features, including the use of rare, the Morning Star Manufacturing Company and S.M. Heller, part owner of Heller-Aller Harry Wachter Cultural Affiliation for commercial and domestic use. Napoleon in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was a thriving county constructed.This building was demolished in 1898 to make way for the new building. Presbyterian church membership mirrored much of this influence at the time the new First Presbyterian Church, Napoleon, Unio Applicable National Register Criteria See continuation sheet Period of Significance x locally statewide prominent Toledo architect, Harry W. Wachter.

The property meets Criteria Exception A as a religious property deriving primary significance from architectural or artistic Criteria Considerations (Exceptions) donated by Judge Justin H.Tyler in 1864,just three years after the church was agricultural landscape and in the stylish and substantial edifices being constructed congregation, then numbering about 300. However, there is evidence that at least nationally before completion.Six years later a more substantial brick building was Construction of the First Presbyterian Church began in 19o1 and the congregation NPS Form- OMB Approval No.

1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service One might assume that this basically conservative group of church and community Crafts style with its multitude of historic influences and a highly skilled but Harry Wachter (1868-1941), eventually became a nationally known architect, whose and Childrens Hospital, four prominent Toledo churches, and numerous houses. The degree to which Wachter may have influenced the selection of the Arts and Crafts style is not known. However, he later designed numerous houses in Toledo that or curved gables, which have a vaguely Oriental air and shallow pointed arches. These details appear over and over again on Wachter houses.

The First Presbyterian Church displays many of the forms and elements of the Arts and Crafts style as well as architectural evidence of the cultural traditions which organic or natural character, through the use of rustic and primitive heavy masonry and exposed rafters and elements of Gothic and Medieval architecture, including While the design and use of variegated sandstone for the First Presbyterian Church Presbyterian churches were built in Ohio in a remarkably similar Arts and Crafts in the contemporary and fashionable style of the period.

The Napoleon First Presbyterian Church was evaluated against the other Arts and Church appear to be the best preserved but also (probably because of Wachter's design)the most elaborate and fully developed example of the Arts and Crafts style of the bell tower finial is reminiscent of the contemporary Art Nouveau style.7 Continuation Sheet National Register of Historic Places relatively unknown design the building.4 First Presybeterian Church, Napoleon, Ohio Section number - Page _ 2 Teaders would choose an equally conservative architectural style for their new house of worship. Instead, they chose the unconventional but thoroughly modern Arts and battered walls, pointed arch windows and doors with trefoil design, an oriel window and rear towers are obvious Japanese influences, while the Swirling, organic foliage style between 1899 and 1903.

All were constructed with the same variegated Despite the similarities, it is unlikely architects who received commissions for Presbyterian churches were simply designing Henry County OMB Approvel No. 10240018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service 1. The Presbyterian Church was organized June 15, 1861 and the first meeting of the According to Slocum, a new and larger building would also be "in keeping with the 4. In fact, Wachter had opened his own office in Toledo just six years earlier. Horace W. Wachter. Wachter designed this Classical Revival building while a member of the Buffalo, New York architectural firm of Green and Wicks.

In fact, the random use of Gothic details evident in Wachter's design is typical real presence in America was seen in the decorative arts, a term which could be applied to finals, crockets and other architectural ornaments of the period. On the other hand, the American Arts and Crafts movement wholeheartedly embraced Exposition in 1893 provided the first widespread exposure to Japanese architecture The stone for all four churches was quarried from the Will Heckler Stone Quarry in Mansfield, now closed. Napoleon.

Continuation Sheet National Register of Historic Places bungalows influenced by the movement,from coast to coast.(Kaplan,1987,p.109) End Notes The early membership of the church reads like a street map of Napoleon,(Tyler, The dedication program for the new church notes the need to keep up with years the congregation also met in the Episcopal church building and occasionally improvements and advancements in the city as one reason for the new church. continued to practice under his own name until 1936,when he was joined by his son in rooms of the Carey Block.(The Maumee River Basin,1905,P.724) First Presbyterian Church, Napoleon, Ohio NPS ForT. 10-000a Section number - dignity of the growing organization." (Slocum, 1905, p.

124) Orwig, Reynolds, Daggett, Palmer, Dodd, Carey, Sheffield, Brownell, Barnes and Gothic did not mean a specific stylistic response but rather "a freedom from and curved gables, pagodas and torri gates appeared in Arts and Crafts houses and Yost and Pacuard of Columbus, Northminster Presbyterian Church, Dayton, Architect, Henry County Page 3 The Art Nouveau style emerged in Brussels and Paris during the 1890's.Its only 9. Major Bibllographical References Democratic-Northwest, October 15, 1953. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1987. Harry W. Wachter, Architect. Napoleon Northwest, October 22, 1953. Slocum, Charles. History of the Maumee River Basin, Bowen and Slocum, Publishers, 1905. (Deceased), p. 620, Hennessey and Ingalls, Inc., Los Angeles, Letter from Paul L. Yutzy, Interim Pastor, Napoleon First Presbyterian Church, October 31, 1989.

- See continuation sheet Jpreliminary determination of individual listing (36 CFR 67) Primary location of additional data: [x State historic preservation office Jpreviously listed in the National Register Other State agency previously determined eligible by the National Register Federal agency Jdesignated a National Historic Landmark Jrecorded by Historic American Buildings Survey # Jrecorded by Historic American Engineering Ohio Historic Preservation Office, Columbus, Ohio, First Presbyterian Church, Archives 10.

The rest of the file

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

Geographical Data UTM References Verbal Boundary Description County, Ohio. First Presbyterian Church of Napoleon, Ohio. 11. Form Prepared By name/tite Glenn A. Harper, Regional Coordinator organization Ohio Historic Preservation Office _ date September, 1989 street & number Center for Archival Collections _ telephone 419-372-2411 city or town Bowling Green State University _ state _ zip code 43403 Record Local government Easting University Northing Bowling Green Jerome Library privately published. Other Boundary Justification has been requested Letter from Horace W.Wachter,son of Harry Wachter.October designed by Specify repository: Previous documentation on file (NPS): Copy of postcard. Will Heckler Stone Quarry, Mansfield, Ohio. Acreage of property Less than 1 acre Kaplan, Wendy.

"The Art That Is Life": The Arts & Crafts Movement in America, 1875-1920, L4,818,517,8,0 The nominated property constitutes the building and lot historically associated with the Zone UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET NOMINATOR: STATE NPDIL: PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: COMMENT WAIVER: N ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS: 2/05/90 3/09/90 2/21/90 DATE MULTIPLE RETURN 3/22/90 DISCIPLINE REVIEWER PROPERTY RECOM./CRITERIA NAME: Entered in the DATE RECEIVED: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE National Registe: DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: DATE OF PENDING LIST: DATE OF 45TH DAY: DATE OF 16TH DAY: DOCUMENTATION see attached comments Y/N see attached SLR Y/N REASONS FOR REVIEW: PERIOD: First Presbyterian Church _resource type STATE/FEDERAL AGENCY CERTIFICATION _justification of areas checked _boundary justification ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTATION/PRESENTATION _sketch maps _photographs acreage current FUNCTION DESCRIPTION clarity materials count other completeness historic BIBLIOGRAPHY Period SIGNIFICANCE Builder/Architect Signed applicable criteria justification of exception CLASSIFICATION Date Phone relating significance to the resource Specific dates summary paragraph verbal boundary description architectural classification descriptive text relationship of integrity to significance OTHER COMMENTS Areas of Significance--Check and justify below -presentation Statement of Significance one paragraph) GEOGRAPHICAL DATA USGS maps UTMS Napoleon, Henry County, OH Photo by Napoleon, Ohio 43545 Mary Fran Meekison Napoleon, Ohio 43545 Mary Fran Meekison Photo by Napoleon, Henry County OH First Presbyterion Church Napoleon, Ohio 43545 Mary Fran Meekison Photo by Mary Fran Meekison Photo by First Preshyterian Church Napoleon, Henry county, OH AD.1901 ChURCT PRESBYTERIAR Napolemn, Henry County, OH 6 of 27 Photo by Napoleon, Ohio 43545 Mary Fran Meekison Napoleon, Henry County, OH First Presbyterian Church Napoleon, Ohio 43545 Mary Fran Meekison Photo by First Presbyterian Church Napoleon, Ohio 43545 Mary Fran Meekison Photo by First Presbyterian Church 10 of 27 1 of 27 Photo by Napoleon, Ohio 43545 Mary Fran Meekison First Presbytemin Church Napolern, Henry County, oH Napoleon, Ohio 43545 Mary Fran Meekison Napoleon, Henry county, OH Pnoto by Napoleon, Ohio 43545 Mary Fran Meekison Photo by First Presbyterian Church Mary Fran Meekison Photo by Napoleon, Ohio 43545 First Presbyterian Church Photo by Mary Fran Meekison Napoleon, Ohio 43545 First Presbyterian Church Napoleon, Ohio 43545 Mary Fran Meekison First Presbyteriän Church Napoleon, Ohio 43545 Mary Fran Meekison Photo by Mary Fran Meekison Photo by Napoleon, Ohio 4354J First Presbyterian Chureh Napoleon, Ohio 43545 Mary Fran Meekison Photo by First Prestyterian Church Mary Fran Meekison Photo by Napoleon, Ohlo 43545 Mary Fran Meekison Photo by Napoleon, Ohio 43545 Napoleon, Ohio 43545 Mary Fran Meekison Photo by First Presbyterian Church Napoleon, Ohio 43545 Mary Fran Meekison Photo by First fresbyterian Church Photo by Napoleon, Ohio 43545 Mary Fran Meekison First Presbyteria Church Napoleon, Ohio 43545 Mary Fran Meekison Photo by First Prestyterion Church Photo by Napoleon, Ohio 43545 Mary Fran Meekison E HENRY COUNTY 4585 790 NAPOLEON WEST QUADRANGLE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NAPOLEON WEST, OHIO 16-740170- UNITED STATES STATE OF OHIO DIVISION OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY GEOLOGICAL SURVEY DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES 4885780 Ohio Historic Preservation Office FEB 0 5 1980 1982 Velma Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43211 January 25, 1990 SINCE 1885 Ms.

Carol Shull, Chief National Register of Historic Places National Park Service Department of the Interior P.O. Box 37127 Washington, D.C. 20013-7127 Enclosed are seven new National Register nominations. All of the appropriate Longnecker Office Building Hoadley, George, House McFarland, James, House North Main Street Historic District Carroll Township Hall Please contact me if you have any questions. W. Ray Luce WRL/JW: dh Hocking 614/297-2470 HISTORICAL Henry Knox Enclosure County Sincerely, Ottawa nrohp/nat408.r Dear Carol: Ladies Comfort Station New Submissions First Presbyterian Church Franklin Station in Logan, Ohio, these photographs were taken in April of 1988. Hami Iton State Historic Preservation Officer In regard to the use of labels on the photographs of the Ladies Comfort SOCIETY OHIO