Nomination for Archwood Congregational Church

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

United States Department of the Interior APR 4 1994 (Form 10-900a). Type all entries. 1. Name of Property other names/site number Location street & number Archwood Avenue not for publication city, town zip code 44109 Classification Ownership of Property X private X building(s) _sites Jpublic-Federal _ structures -objects listed in the National Register 0 4. State/Federal Agency Certification Ohio Historic Preservation Office -- SHPO 5. National Park Service Certification 1, héreby, certify that this property is: Ventered in the National Register. Idetermined not eligible for the Jother, (explain:) 035 code Noncontributing public-local Date public-State district National Register Cleveland state Registration Form Total 3-28-94 vicinity See continuation sheet. Number of Resources within Property removed from the National Register.

historic name Entered in the Archwood Congregational Church Archwood United Church of Christ determined eligible for the National Ohio and areas of significance, enter only the categories and subcategories listed in the instructions.For additional space use continuation sheets Number of contributing resources previously Category of Property for Completing National Register Forms (National Register Bulletin 16). Complete each item by marking"xin the appropriate box or by entering Signature of certitying official Date of Action State or Federal agency and bureau National Register of Historic Places Signature of commenting or other official As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966,as amended,1 hereby certify that this NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Name of related multiple property listing: (Rev. 8-86) INTERAGENCY RESOURCES DIVISION the requested information.

If an item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, styles, materials, Register. See continuation sheet. Cuyahoga county National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. Archwood Congregational Church, Cuyahoga Cor, OH 6. Function or Use 7. Description Materials (enter categories from instructions) foundation - Describe present and historic physical appearance. several lots east from a major commercial route of southwest Cleveland, Pearl Road. It stands on a slight the church is the church parsonage, a frame Queen Anne style building that is covered with aluminum Archwood Avenue are a series of single family apartments, some of which have been replaced by Postwar being included in that nomination when the district was established seven years ago.

The church is a two-story L-shaped building that is faced with red brick. A sandstone water table, steps and keystones are accents to the brickwork. White-painted wood trim forms an extensive accent to the red brick, consistent with the building's Georgian Revival style. The L-shaped plan defines the two primary portions of the building. The front section, facing onto Archwood Avenue, contains the sanctuary. The rear portion of the L is set back from the street and contains classrooms, meeting space, a gymnasium and flight of steps leads up to the main entrance, which consists of three sets of paneled double doors set the attic level that is accented by a circular window in its center. window in the center of each side. A massive wood cornice separates the lower portion from the slender wood shaft-like portion above, which features a tall arched louvered opening on each of four sides.

Set The sides of the front portion of the building feature large broad modified Palladian windows. They are On the west side the rear section projects slightly to create an entrance and stair tower. Behind this two- X See continuation sheet roof other brick offices. Colonial Revival sandstone Religion/Religious Facility (enter categories from instructions) separate the church from this new commercial development.Across the street and further west along Architectural Classification apartment buildings.These modern apartment buildings form a visual barrier between the church Historic Functions (enter categories from instructions) walls rise above the street and is on landscaped grounds containing shrubs and shade trees.Immediately west of windows on either side.A single large arch unites the three units.

atop this stage is an octagonal belfry with open arched openings on each side.This is crowned by a Current Functions (enter categories from instructions) each divided into three parts with a broad multi-paned section in the center and smaller multi-paned building and the Archwood Avenue National Register Historic District which prevented the church from asphalt siding.Adjoining the parsonage on the west is the church parking lot.East of the church is a modern Rising above the portico is the tall steeple.Its first stage is faced with brick and features a circular Archwood United Church of Christ stands on a residential street in an inner city Cleveland neighborhood slender spire sheathed with copper and capped by a gilt ball and weathervane. storyfacadeis a one-story wing that is plainly finished with common brick and is completely unadorned.

shopping center, now in the process of construction. A buffer of trees and shrubs and a parking lot will round columns that feature simplified Corinthian capitals in a popular Early American motif. A broad NPS Form 10-900-e United States Department of the Interior APR 4 1994 Cuyahoga Co., OH series of regularly spaced multipaned windows and is crowned by a massive wood cornice at the same carved sandstone figure that was taken from the previous church on this site. The east end of the rear section has a plain wall along the south portion of its east elevation, but its northern two-thirds is lower in height and is faced with common brick. The entire rear or north elevation of the church is also finished with common brick. The sanctuary is capped by a gable roof clad with asphalt shingles.

The front-facing portions of the rear section have flat roofs concealed behind parapet walls, and its plainly finished portions have a combination of flat and hipped roofs. The narthex is a narrow yet elegantly finished space that forms a vestibule between the main entrance doors and the sanctuary. Its relatively low ceiling reflects the presence of a balcony above facing into the and crosses and other religious motifs are worked into the decorative plaster. The sanctuary is a magnificent room that is broad and spacious with a ceiling over twenty feet high. The entablature that encircles the perimeter of the room. The lower portion of the walls is faced with paneled wainscot. Multi-paned windows have a soft opaque glass that does not compete with the architecture of areas that flank the recessed upper level choir loft. Only one organ loft is used.

The stepped choir loft adornment with pilasters and an entablature give the effect of a Palladian window. Pews feature painted feature at the west end of the podium. A small lectern is positioned at the east end of the podium. The sanctuary features a gently arched ceiling accented by plaster borders and rosettes above each of six its eastern part, a sizable nursery room at its western end and restrooms and offices in between. The main area near the center of this wing, from which smaller classroom spaces radiate. A stage is at the south a 1908 addition to the Victorian Gothic style predecessor church that were retained and incorporated into the present building when the old church was torn down. The sandstone figure of Deacon Sears, the baptismal font and the organ were taken from the old church and used in this building.

Page Continuation Sheet Archwood Congregational Church Colonial style chandeliers. sanctuary.This space achieves its elegance through delicate classical motifs executed in wood and RECEIVED 413 the space.The south end features an open balcony above the narthex.The north end contains a large INTERAGENCY RESOURCES DIVISION National Park Service National Register of Historic Places massive modified Palladian windows are accented by flanking Corinthian pilasters that support a robust paneled ends and varnished gently curving seats.The main pulpit is a large and elaborate cantilevered plaster.

These motifs form square columns and entablatures over the doorways and divide the ceiling into panels.The narthex columns feature a scroll motif at their tops formed from the church's initials.Fish heights as on the sanctuary wing.An arched opening at the far eastern side of the front-facing elevation podium area flanked by sets of entry doors.Above these doors are tall screens that serve two organ loft of the rear wing contains an arched entrance similar to those on the front of the church.Above this is a On the east side, the rear section extends out further and creates a grassy courtyard.It is accented by a OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 Section number rises up to a large recessed arched opening infilled with a curtain that is flanked by two broad panels. Its Below the sanctuary, at the basement level, is a large fellowship hall.

It has plastered walls and a classroom space has a suspended acoustical ceiling.The gymnasium and classroom wing are elements of NPS Form 10-900- United States Department of the Interlor National Register of Historic Places Cuyahoga Co., OIl Section number _ Page _ 2 The rear wing has only a partial second floor. At the west end is a stairway leading up to a storage room spacious pastor's study, complete with Federal-style fireplace, and a smaller office at the head of the hall. Otherwise the building is in a remarkable state of preservation. National Park Service Archwood Congregational Church Continuation Sheet classroom space and the installation of dropped ceilings in this room and the basement level fellowship and the organ loft.At the east end is a stair leading down to the east entrance and leading up to a OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 stairway.

The church survives with very few alterations and has had no additions since its construction sixty-five years ago. The most significant change was the covering of clerestory windows in the central Archwood Congregational Church, Cuyahoga Co.,OIL 8. Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

Certifying official has considered the significance of this property in relation to other properties: |X locally Applicable National Register Criteria Areas of Significance (enter categories from instructions) Architect/Builder Farnum, Daniel State significance of property,and justify criteria, criteria considerations, and areas and periods of significance noted above. Archwood United Church of Christ is significant under Criterion C in the area of architecture, because it incorporates elements of previous buildings, including major sections of a 1908 Sunday School annex and carved elements of its Victorian Gothic style predecessor. The building has a distinctive L-shaped form that gives the worship portion of the facility greater prominence while relating the important educational and recreational aspects of the building in a subordinant but harmonizing rear wing.

Front portions of this rear wing on both sides of the sanctuary section were apparently given greater heights in their front-facing areas so that it would harmonize with supporting an impressive pediment. The steeple is a dramatic and truly remarkable feature, more than doubling the height of the church. It is also pleasing in its massing, recalling church steeples of the American Colonial era. Also noteworthy is the arcade effect created by the broad two-story modified Palladian windows that light the sanctuary. They convey a sense of the scale and grandeur of the fine space within.

The sanctuary is highly ornamented, although in a calm restful sense of subdued elegance characteristic of Georgian architecture in America.Instead of relying on applied stenciling in bold colors or attention-getting carved woodwork or murals, the interior features grandly scaled but delicately proportioned ornamentation, largely formed from cast plaster. Fluted pilasters with ornate Corinthian capitals support a rich entablature that spans the perimeter walls. The potential overbearing effect is limited by their slight projecting and subdued coloration. The space achieves a light airy quality through use of painted wood and plaster. Instead of stained glass windows, the space is lighted by frosted opaque glass multi-paned windows. a massive arched opening above the choir loft serves as a focal point on the interior.

To the right of the podium is a baptistery containing a carved marble fountain done in Victorian style that was placed here from the previous church building. The elegant decoration of the sanctuary is carried into the narthex, the pastor's study and the church parlor. Other spaces are fairly plainly finished but their exteriors are designed to harmonize with the character expressed by the main section. E See continuation sheet architecture Significant Person Jnationally L|statewide Criteria Considerations (Exceptions) is an impressive example of Georgian Revival style institutional architecture in Cleveland. Its tall spire is especially from the south. It is one of the major examples of Georgian Revival style architecture on Cleveland's near west side and stands as one of the earliest examples of a style.

The building tastefully the main building, even though they are generally lower in height. The front elevation typifies the the highest built feature in the Brooklyn Centre neighborhood and is visible from long distances, NPS Form 10-900- United States Department of the Interlor National Register of Historlc Places Cuyahoga Co., Oll intersects Pearl Road. This building was moved to the corner of Denison and West 33rd in 1851. In 1879 to a dense urban Cleveland neighborhood, especially following its incorporation into Cleveland in 1894.

displayed influence of the Akron plan, having a central auditorium complete with stage and lighted by redecorated, receiving a new organ and a new front porch and entrance that displayed tudor Revival In 1928, under the leadership of Pastor Lawrie Sharp, who was to have a thirty year tenure at Archwood, longest of any minister of the congregation, the present facility was begun. It was designed by Architect Prior to having his own practice, Farnum was with the prominent Cleveland firm of Lehman and Schmitt. It that capacity, he supervised the design and construction of the West Side Market, the Woodland Avenue of Lakeside Courthouse, part of Cleveland's famed Group Plan. Farnum also designed houses and was architect for the nearby Masonic Temple on Pearl Road. In planning the new church, Farnum sought to incorporate the Sunday School annex, which was then twenty years old.

He did so by wrapping the front merit and therefore qualifies for listing in the National Register under Criteria Consideration A. construction. influence. Continuation Sheet The Archwood Congregational Church is significant for its architectural Archwood Congregational Church even though the wing is essentially a single story with a raised basement.The interior connections clerestory windows onto which small classrooms on three sides faced.At this time the old church was Daniel S. Farnum, a member of the church whose daughter grew up here and remains an active member.

asymmetrical and somewhat curious building that featured a tall steeple at its southeast corner, facing a brick Victorian Gothic style church was erected on the present site.It was an elegant although between the two sections are more problematic with some hallways mazelike and a variety of fractured Public Bath House and the now-destroyed Central Armory.The firm is perhaps best known for its design National Park Service Archwood church was founded in 1819 and is the oldest Congregational church in Cuyahoga county.It In 1908 the church received a major expansion in the form ofa rear Sunday School addition that OMB Approvel No. 1024-0018 town of Cleveland at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River.

Worship services were first held at various elevations of the educational wing with Georgian Revival elevations that give the illusion of large height, was established in a pioneer settlement in the heart of Brooklyn Township, several miles from the small locations but by 1830 the congregation had its own house of worship, located where Willowdale now large sum of money for the time, due in part to its extensive detailing, tall steeple and steel frame fireproof Page Section number 8 Archwood Congregational Church, Cuyahoga Co., OH 9. Major Bibllographical References Archwood Church Sesqui-Centennial Brochure, 1959 G. M. Hopkins Company 1922 plat book of Cuyahoga County, Ohio Van Tassel1, David & Grabowski, John, editors, Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Indiana University Press, 1987, p. 49.

Interview with Alice Farnum, church member and daughter of the church's architect church files, Including historic photographs and church blueprints Primary location of additional data: X State historic preservation office previously listed in the National Register previously determined eligible by the National Register Survey # Other Jrecorded by Historic American Engineering Record # 10.

The rest of the file

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

Geographical Data 11. Form Prepared By Steven McQuillin, preservation consultant - date September 1993 city or town - state Ohia _ zip code 44109 University organization Northing Federal agency Cleveland has been requested Verbal Boundary Description been altered with aluminum siding and the parking lot has no historical significance. Other State agency Local government Specify repository: and the church parking lot were excluded from the nomination because the house has The nominated property consists of the city lot containing the historic church Boundary Justification See continuation sheet designated a National Historic Landmark recorded by Historic American Buildings The nominated property is contained within Lot 36 of Betts & Bibbins Subdivision, Previous documentation on file (NPS): a rectangle measuring 95 by 165 feet.

Zone Easting Steven McOuillin & Associates UTM Reterences 14518910810] -preliminary determination of individuaf fisting (36 CFR 67) name/title - street & number 3515.Archwood Avenue telephone (216) 749-3515 Acreage of property Zone date building.No other building stands on the property.The adjacent church parsonage less than one acre UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET DATE OF 16TH DAY: DATE OF 45TH DAY: DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: LANDSCAPE: N N PDIL: COMMENT WAIVER: N V ACCEPT ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS: RECOM- / CRITERIA MULTIPLE REJECT DISCIPLINE DATE RETURN REVIEWER 4/04/94 5/05/94 5/19/94 OTHER: PERIOD: Entered in the NAME: NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES DATE RECEIVED: PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE LESS THAN 5O YEARS: DATE OF PENDING LIST: APPEAL: N REQUEST: N SLR DRAFT: N REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION REFERENCE NUMBER: 94000416 NOMINATOR: STATE DOCUMENTATION see attached comments Y/N see attached SLR Y/N 4/19/94 SAMPLE: NATIONAL: DATA PROBLEM:N National Regiete REASONS FOR REVIEW: -current GEOGRAPHICAL DATA boundary justification DESCRIPTION FUNCTION SIGNIFICANCE CLASSIFICATION acreage materials BIBLIOGRAPHY count clarity historic completeness Period Builder/Architect architectural classification sketch maps applicable criteria Date Specific dates ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTATION/PRESENTATION summary paragraph descriptive text justification of exception Phone resource type relationship of integrity to significance relating significance to the resource Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to verbal boundary description STATE/FEDERAL AGENCY CERTIFICATION USGS maps Areas of Significance--Check and justify below Statement of Significance one paragraph) Signed UTMS _photographs OTHER COMMENTS presentation OTHER context justification of areas checked Cluve lend,Dhio Cong rogafional Augut 1993 CUYAHOGA CO.,OH COMMERCIAL SURVEY CO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 7.5 MINUTE SERIES (TOPOGRAPHIC) CLEVELAND SOUTH QUADRANGLE CONGREGATION CLEVELAND SOUTH, OHIO UNITED STATES 17/441280 CHURCH 1982 Velma Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43211-2497 Fax: 297-2546 SINCE 1885 National Register of Historic Places P.

O. Box 37127 Washington, DC 20013-7127 INTERAGENCY RESOURCES DIVISION been followed for these new submissions. Archwood Congregational Church James Ilill House If you have questions or comments about these documents, contact this office. W. Ray Luce State Historic Preservation Officer 614/297-2470 COUNTY SOCIETY enclosures Cuyahoga Sincerely, Columbiana HISTORICAL Lorain Station Historic District National Park Service Rose Hill and Community House Ohio Historical Center NEW SUBMISSION Middle Sandy Presbyterian Church Enclosed please find five (5) new National Register nominations. All appropriate notification procedures have Ohio Historic Preservation Office RECEIVED 413 Carol Shull, Chief of Registration Dear Ms. Shull: OHIO