First Unitarian Church of Marietta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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First Unitarian Church Of Marietta
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Front of the church
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 232 3rd St., Marietta, Ohio |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1855 |
| Architect | John M. Slocomb |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Part of | Marietta Historic District (ID74001646) |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001548 |
| Added to NRHP | October 3, 1973 |
The First Unitarian Church of Marietta is a very old and important church building. It is located in Marietta, Ohio, in the United States. This church is part of the Unitarian Universalist Association.
The building you see today was finished in 1858. It was built for one of the two churches that later joined together. Because of its beautiful and unique design, it is now known as a historic site.
Contents
A Look at the Church's History
The story of this church began a long time ago. In January 1830, a man named Nahum Ward placed an advertisement. He wanted to find others who believed in "liberal religion."
Forming the First Church
Soon after, a group came together and formed a Unitarian church. They started building their church in July 1855. By June 1857, the building was ready. The cost for the land, materials, and work was about $25,000.
Joining Two Churches
In May 1869, this Unitarian church joined with another local church. This second church was a Universalist church. It had started way back in 1817. However, its building was badly damaged in a big flood in 1860. The two churches combined and became the "First Universalist Church of Marietta."
Discovering the Church's Design
The First Unitarian Church is a great example of Gothic Revival architecture. This style was popular for churches and other important buildings. It often includes pointed arches and tall windows.
Building Materials and Features
The church is made of brick and sits on a strong stone foundation. It also has other stone details. The front of the church has three sections, with the main door in the middle. The sides of the building have five sections.
On the left side of the front, there is a tall, square tower. This tower is almost twice as tall as the rest of the building. You can see tall, narrow windows on the tower and the main church walls. The building's overall shape is like a rectangle with a pointed roof at the front. Small decorative elements, called crenellations, are along the edges.
Local Craftsmanship
The architect who designed the church was John M. Slocomb. Local workers did all the stone and brick work. The bricks were even made from clay found nearby. This clay came from a place called Sacra Via. These were ceremonial walls built by ancient people called the Mound Builders.
A Recognized Historic Site
The First Unitarian Church is very important to history. In October 1973, it was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Why It's Historic
It earned this special title for two main reasons. First, its unique Gothic Revival architecture is very impressive. Second, it is closely linked to Nahum Ward, who was a very important person in Marietta during the 1800s.
Part of a Larger Historic Area
This church was one of four places in Marietta listed on the Register in 1973. Other places included the Mound Cemetery Mound and buildings at Marietta College. The church is also part of the larger Marietta Historic District. This district was added to the Register in 1974. It includes over two thousand buildings across a large part of the city.
