East Market Street Church of Christ facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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East Market Street Church of Christ
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Front of the former church
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 864 E. Market St., Akron, Ohio |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1912 |
| Architect | Harpster & Bliss |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| NRHP reference No. | 88003440 |
| Added to NRHP | February 7, 1989 |
The East Market Street Church of Christ is a really old building in Akron, Ohio. It used to be a church. Built in 1912, it's special because it's one of the oldest churches designed with a unique layout called the Akron Plan. This building is so important that it's now a historic site.
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What is the Akron Plan?
The Akron Plan is a special way to design a church building. It was created by an inventor named Lewis Miller. This design has a main worship area, called a sanctuary, right in the middle. Around this central area are many smaller rooms. These rooms were used for Sunday school classes.
Why is this church special?
The East Market Street Church was designed by a famous Akron architecture firm, Harpster & Bliss. They were very good at their job in the early 1900s. Many of the first Akron Plan churches in the city are gone now. This makes the 1912 East Market Street church the oldest one still standing in Akron. For a long time, it was also the oldest Akron Plan church still used as a church in the city.
What Does the Building Look Like?
The East Market Street building has two stories. It is made of brick, with the bricks laid in a pattern called Flemish bond. The building sits on a strong stone foundation. Its roof is made of asphalt.
Special Design Details
The church is built in the Neoclassical style. This style often uses elements from ancient Greek and Roman buildings. You can see this in the front of the church. It has a central entrance with two columns and a triangular top, called a pediment. Stairs lead up from the sidewalk to the main door.
The sides of the front part of the building have regular walls. They have rectangular windows on the first floor. The windows on the second floor are arched. Some parts of the building also have fancy terracotta decorations. On one side, there's a basement that faces a parking lot. It has an entrance right at ground level.
A Historic Landmark
In 1988, the East Market Street Church of Christ was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of buildings, sites, and objects that are important in American history. The church got on the list because of its special architecture.
Why was it chosen?
A big reason it was chosen was that its inside had not changed much. It was the oldest Akron Plan church in the city that was still in its original form. At the time, it was one of only two such churches left in all of Akron.
What is it used for now?
The church congregation that built it later joined with another church. They now worship at a different location. Today, the building at 864 Market Street is home to the Summit Academy Secondary School. This is an alternative school for students. Sometimes, the building is still used for other events, like community gatherings.
