Casstown Lutheran Stone Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Casstown Lutheran Stone Church
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Front and southern side
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 11 S. Main St., Casstown, Ohio |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1839 |
| NRHP reference No. | 84003783 |
| Added to NRHP | May 31, 1984 |
Imagine a building that's almost 200 years old! The Casstown Lutheran Stone Church is a very old church building in Casstown, Ohio. It was built a long time ago, in the late 1830s. This church was special because it was one of the first places for Lutheran people to worship in the area.
Even though it was a church for only a short time, its strong stone walls make it an important building. It's even listed as a historic site! This means it's a place that tells us a lot about the past.
Contents
What Does the Church Look Like?
This old church is one story tall. It's a simple building made of stone. It has a basic roof shape called a gabled roof, which looks like an upside-down "V".
Special Stone and Roof
The sides of the church have four sections, each with windows. The front has a main door with one window on each side. What makes this church special is the stone it's made from. Most old stone buildings use smooth, cut stones called ashlar. But the Casstown church uses rough, less-worked stones. This gives it a unique look.
The roof is also very interesting. It has a special system of wooden beams called a truss system. These beams fit together with pegs. This clever design means the roof can stand up without any inside walls holding it up!
A Look at Its History
The first Lutheran group in Casstown started around 1835. This was just a few years after a big Lutheran organization, the Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Ohio, was formed. Many of these Lutherans had moved from Pennsylvania.
At first, the Lutheran group didn't have their own building. So, they shared a church with the village's Methodist Episcopal group. Building their own church began in 1839. It was finished in 1840.
Once their new stone church was ready, the Lutherans moved in. They used this building for about 27 years. In 1867, they built a bigger brick church and moved there.
A New Life for the Old Church
After the Lutherans moved out, the stone church became a home. Two well-known people who lived there were C.R. and Eunice Randall. It's amazing how a building can change its purpose over time!
Why Is It a Historic Site?
In 1984, the old Casstown Lutheran Stone Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important places in the United States.
Important for Architecture and History
The church earned its spot on this list for two main reasons:
- Its unique architecture: The way it was built, especially with its rough stone and special roof, makes it stand out.
- Its place in history: It shows an important time when Lutheran families from Pennsylvania moved to western Ohio.
The Casstown Lutheran Stone Church is one of over forty National Register sites in Miami County. It is the only one in Casstown.
