Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in
1978. A historic map-sheet match is not published yet. The record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary.
From the record
“Most Pure Heart Of Mary Church is a historic church at West Street and Raymond Avenue in Shelby, Ohio.”
Wikipedia article Most Pure Heart Of Mary Church, CC BY-SA 4.0.
one of 61 National Register listings in Richland County · listed in 1978 · category: Building.
National Register reference number.78002179- the number the National Park Service assigned this property when it was listed, and the key its nomination file is catalogued under at the National Archives.
Next to Madison, it contains the largest town in the county, Shelby. The land is all tillable and of fine quality. The eastern portion is well watered b}' the Black Fork and its tributaries, which traverse its entire length, from south to north ; and Paramour Run, which passes from east to west across the southwest corner.
A well-worn Indian trail passed across the township, its general direction being northeast, in the direction of Lower Sandusky (Fremont). The Delaware, Wyandot and Seneca Indians generally used this territory as a huntingground ; and a portion of one of these tril^es had a permanent camp on a branch of the Black Fork, about two miles, a little west of south of the present town of Shelby. This camp, consisting of ten or a dozen Indians, under the lead of Johnnj-cake, remained here until about the year 1828, when the}- left, never to return. A trail passed through this encampment, from Mansfield to a DelaAvare camp (probabl}' Wingenund's) on the head-waters of the Sandusky River, near Leesville. So far as known, this was the only permanent Indian camp within the limits of the township, though evidence exists, here and there, of temporary camps for hunting purposes. The great wave of the sea of civilization has long since l)lotted out all external evidences of Indian occupation, except here and there the plow yet turns up some
Regional context, not property-specific
evidence. The
federal wildfire occurrence database
lists 2 fires within 5 miles of Most Pure Heart Of Mary Church between
2020 and 2020, burning about 4 acres in total. None started naturally. None was recorded as arson.
Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted
here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
Reported cause
Fires
Debris and open burning
1
Missing data/not specified/undetermined
1
The most recent of
them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service
that recorded it.
Regional context, not property-specific
evidence. Museums hold 110 specimens
collected within 10 miles of Most Pure Heart Of Mary Church between 1839 and
1975: 62 Animalia, 27 Plantae, 21 Fungi. 12 distinct Species records are shown.
Collected by Berra, T. (Tim), Chase, H. (Hazel), Colby, J. and others. Each is a
physical object with a catalogue
number, and each entry opens the museum's record. This is what was
collected and kept, not a survey of what lives here - nothing can be
concluded from a species being absent.
Regional context, not property-specific
evidence. The National Weather Service names
Shelby, the town this property stands in, in 49 storm reports between 1994 and 2022: 22 thunderstorm wind, 18 hail, 4 flash flood, 3 flood.
The reports record 1 injury. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office
filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date
opens the federal record of that event.
Heavy rain producing thunderstorms affected Richland County during the late evening hours of August 20th and early morning hours of August 21st. Rainfall rates with the strongest storms exceeded three inches per hour. A trained spotter in Mansfield measured a storm total of 7.5 inches. An automated sensor at Mansfield Lahm Airport measured a total of 6.24 inches with 4.09 inches of this total falling between 2 and 8 am. A Cooperative Observer four miles east of Bellville measured a total of 4.30 inches with 4.37 inches measured by an automated gage at Malabar State Park. Runoff from this rain combined with ground already saturated from earlier rains led to catastrophic flooding across portions of Richland County. Local officials stated that the flooding in the county was some of the the worst ever! The Shelby area was especially hard hit as was the northern portion of Mansfield. In Shelby, the Black Fork of the Mohican River left it's banks and flooded most of downtown Shelby. Flood waters in some areas were as much as 8 feet deep. The Municipal Courthouse was a total loss and the Fire Department building was heavily damaged. Damage to city buildings in Shelby topped $1 million. Two schools in Shelby sustained an additional $1.5 million in damages. Dozens of people had to be rescued by boat in Shelby. Water rescue teams from surrounding areas assisted in the rescues. A Coast Guard helicopter from Detroit rescued several people from the roofs of homes. In Mansfield, flood waters heavily damaged the main Post Office on North Main Street. Water inside the building was up to 15 inches deep with flood waters in nearby parking lots as much as five feet deep. Areas surrounding the Post Office were also unindated. Around 20 people had to be rescued from a gas station at the intersection of State Route 13 and U.S. Highway 30. A 74 year old man was killed around 7 am during a fire caused by flooding. The fire was started after flooding knocked over a gas can and a water heater ignited the gas. Around 100 homes in the county were damaged enough to be declared destroyed with at least 250 homes heavily damaged. Another 1500 homes in the county sustained lesser damages. Dozens of business in the county were also damaged by the flooding. Most of these were along Main and North Gamble Streets in Shelby. Dozens of roads and streets had to be closed because of flooding. Damage to roads, bridges and culverts was extensive. Cleanup and overtime costs incurred by local government agencies was substantial. Finally, standing water and erosion from the runoff caused damage to agricultural interests in the county. |
As a result of heavy rains overnight up to 3 inches in some areas several roads were closed Tuesday July 9th due to high water. The Richland County Sheriff said that 5th Street in downtown Mansfield had flooded, and the fire department evacuated people from homes using boats. There was also flooding on Park Avenue East where roads and railroad tracks were underwater. Some cars were nearly submerged. The Clear Fork River in Shelby forced the fire department out of their station and put about a foot of water over the main road through town. Residents in Bellville were also flooded, according to the sheriff.
A line of severe thunderstorms moved across the northern half of Richland County and caused widespread damage. The damage was especially bad in the Shelby area where dozens of trees were downed causing widespread power outages. At least four building sustained significant damage from either the strong winds or fallen trees. Dozens of other homes lost roofing or siding. Several barns to the east of Shelby were leveled. A lot of damage was also reported north of the Mansfield Airport in the Ganges Five Points area where at least four farm buildings were destroyed. A large sign was flattened at the intersection of State Route 13 and 96. Dozens of trees were downed elsewhere across northern Richland County.
Thunderstorm winds gusts of at least 60 mph downed many trees and caused scattered power outages. Some homes sustained roof damage and at least two utility poles were snapped.
A storm survey was conducted and an EF0 tornado was confirmed in Shelby. The tornado touched down at a factory on the west side of the town. The factory sustained some roof damage and had a masonary wall partially collapse. From the factory, the tornado continued through residential neighborhoods causing only intermittent damage. A couple dozen trees were downed along the damage path which was about three quarters of a mile long and no more than 20 yards in width.
The Emergency Manager relayed a report of damage to a barn and utility poles down. A trained weather spotter also reported that a building had a portion of a roof blown off by strong thunderstorm winds.
High water on US 13 and ST RT 603 and 96. 9 PM Multiple cars stranded in high water in West Mansfield. 3.8 inches of rain measured in Shelby in 6 hours.
Rainfall in Richland and Ashland Counties was heaviest south of Mansfield, where the airport reported 3.02 for the event. The flooding impacts were primarily isolated to the central and southern half of the counties. There were reports of high water in Mansfield at Ohio 314 and Millsboro Road and Ohio 314 and Flowers Road. Mansfield police said affected areas included the subway and Longview Avenue at Main Street. The street department was called to put up barricades. By 8 pm there were numerous roads flooded across the county. In Shelby the Black Fork was elevated causing the fire department to relocated out of harms way, but ultimately did not breach the banks. The Black Fork south of Melco and into the confluence with the Mohican River were flooded. In Ashland County, numerous campgrounds, vacant this time of year, were inundated in Loudonville from the Mohican River. Other areas in Ashland County that saw flooding were OH-603 and OH-430, as well as County Road 251, just north of County Road 1302. The Ashland County Sheriffs Office said County Road 1600 between County Road 1575 and County Road 655 in Montgomery Township was closed with high water crossing the road just west of County Road 1575. High water was reported at state Route 603 and state Route 430, and County Road 251 just north of County Road 1302. High water signs went up on County Road 500 west of U.S. Route 250 around 10:30 p.m. Saturday.
Minor flooding along the Black Fork of the Mohican River at Shelby occurred on May 9 after nearly 3 inches of rain fell in the watershed. The flood waters reached the Main Street bridge. Shelby is split in half when the Black Fork spills onto Main Street at a stage of 16.5 feet. The USGS river gage at Shelby reached a crest of 16.2 feet on the early evening of the 9th. Minor flooding impacted the athletic fields and there was some property damage. A portion of Seltzer Park, back roads and low-lying areas were flooded.
Several thunderstorm cells moved across the area during this time. Numerous trained spotters across the area observed hail ranging in size from penny to quarter size.
No historic map-sheet match is published
for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs
a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary.
Browse the county's mapped places while that work is
pending.
From the nomination file
2,050 words on record
When this property was proposed for the
National Register, someone wrote the case for it: what the building is,
and why it matters. That document is a federal record in the public domain.
It is quoted below word for word, never summarised. The text was read off the scanned case file by machine, so the
occasional stray character is the recogniser's and the 1970s
typewriter's.
Description of the property
of stone. Stone columns with stiff-leaf derived capitals flank the pair of solid oak display of religious scenes and symbols. One enters through the oak doors to is a high, long rectangular space flanked on either side by an arcade of large, each pillar. Inscriptions, botanical designs, and geometric patterns link the of the church.
Above the arcade covering the half dome ceiling of the apse is a large DATE RUINS are covered with a band of frescoe painting which depicts a saint standing above of framed painted copper sheets which depict the Stations of the Cross with quotes stone framed rose window.At the base, beneath a second brick arch is the main entranceway the narthex with its paneled oak staircase leading to the organ loft.The nave the Annunciation.Along the rear wall of the semi-circular apse is a blind Corinthian Art Deco influence in the abstract geometric designs which were painted.The paneled doors.Sheltering the door is a stone arch of thirteen voussoirs.Twelve large arched opening and carved marble altar rail.Frescoes above the arch depict trim and the foundation.The low pitched gable roof is covered with red Spanish tile.
flanking the main entranceway have statues of Saints Peter and Paul.On the side corbeled work under the eaves.The round headed clerestory windows are set in arcade.Standing on the main arch keystone is a statue of Mary.Two lower niches Form No. 10-300a (Hev. 10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FOR NPS USE ONYN 2 6 1978 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES NOV 3 0 1978 INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM Shelby, Richland County, Ohio ITEM NUMBER 7 baldacchino, which shelters the alter, is supported on four granite columns. PAGE RECEIVED structure is gilded.
architecture and artwork for the purposes of decorative, inspirational, and symbolic It was the third church which was built by the Shelby parish. The first, built in were done by a German artist, Gerhard J. Lamers and his children, Gerhard Franz and Julius Matschinski of Munster, Westfalen. The clerestory windows were produced by the 1924-28 1800-1899 1400-1499 1700-1799 CONSERVATION LAW SIGNIFICANCE ECONOMICS RELIGION ENGINEERING effects.
PERIOD COMMUNICATIONS ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC EDUCATION SCIENCE AGRICULTURE PREHISTORIC TRANSPORTATION THEATER INDUSTRY MILITARY INVENTION SCULPTURE LITERATURE _EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT MUSIC and art.The Romanesque Style basilica demonstrates the traditional joining of _POLITICS/GOVERNMENT The Most Pure Heart of Mary Church is significant in the areas of architecture The baldachino was constructed by the Shelby Cabinet Company.Its bas-reliefs were also called the German Settlement.The Shelby parish was a mixture of ethnic groups; second church was demolished for the construction of the third and present building. The construction of the present church involved a number of artists, craftsmen, designed by Howard W. Germann (Dayton) and carved by Louis Johnson and Herman Bartell.
maintained and has had few alterations to its fabric. was a rather remarkable undertaking for what was a small town.It continues to be well The organ was built by the Votteler Holtkamp Sparling Organ Company of Cleveland. building was completed with the consecration of the altar on June 16, 1928. to this country to settle permanently. The windows were the creation of two German firms.The aisle windows were made by Van Treek firm of Munich. and firms for the decorative work and furniture.The frescoes and the aisle paintings The Lamers family worked in Shelby during the period 1925-27.In 1928, they returned 1866,was a simple wood frame building which was similar in appearance to a school Marie.The elder Lamers had studied at the art academies of Dusseldorf and Munich.
Quoted from the National Register nomination
for reference 78002179, 12 pages, held by the National Archives in Record
Group 79. See the
catalogue record.
Listed places nearby
6 within 8 miles
Other National Register properties close
enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both
positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties
to their map sheets.
Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
Specimens. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), https://www.gbif.org/. Only records licensed CC0 or CC BY are used. Records licensed CC BY-NC are excluded because this site carries advertising. Images are checked individually and any whose licence is non-commercial, no-derivatives or unreadable is refused.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.
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