Frenchtown, Seneca County, Ohio facts for kids

Frenchtown is a small place in Ohio, a state in the United States. It's called an "unincorporated community" because it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Instead, it's part of Seneca County.

History of Frenchtown

Frenchtown began in the 1840s and 1850s. It was settled by people who spoke French, mostly from countries like Belgium and Luxembourg. These early settlers were Catholic.

They first built a simple log chapel dedicated to St. Nicholas. Later, in 1856–1857, a brick church was built across the road. The old log chapel area then became a two-story school house in 1872.

In 1864, a two-story brick building called a rectory was built next to the church. This was where the priest lived. Much later, in 1930, another two-story house across the street became a convent. This was a home for the Sisters who taught at the parish school.

The first brick church wasn't built very well. So, the community decided to build a new, much stronger church. They built a large, red-brick church in the Romanesque Revival style. This style looks a bit like old Roman buildings.

The new church's cornerstone was blessed on October 9, 1887, by Bishop Richard Gilmour. He was a leader from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. The church was officially opened on November 9, 1890.

How Frenchtown Got Its Name

For a long time, the church in Frenchtown was known by different names. In the 1800s, it was called "St. Nicholas, Berwick." This was because the closest train station was in Berwick, about two miles away. At that time, mail for the church came through the New Riegel post office.

Later, a new post office opened in Adrian, which was closer. So, the church became known as "St. Nicholas, Adrian." The name "St. Nicholas, Frenchtown" first appeared in official records around the late 1910s.

Important Places in Frenchtown

Frenchtown has a few important landmarks that tell its story:

• St. Nicholas Catholic Church: This is the large brick church that was dedicated in 1890. It's a central part of the community's history.
• St. Nicholas Catholic Cemetery: This cemetery is next to the church. It has more than 1,000 marked graves, showing many generations of people who lived in the area.
• The former rectory: This two-story brick house is west of the church. It used to be where the priest lived, but now it's a private home.
• The former convent: This house is across the street from the rectory. It used to be home to the Sisters who taught at the school, and now it's also a private home.