Montra, Ohio facts for kids
Montra (sometimes called Monstra) is a small place in Ohio, United States. It's not an official town or city, but it's a community located in Shelby County. Montra was started in the mid-1800s. It's well-known for a special building called the Emanuel Lutheran Church of Montra.
Discover Montra's Location
Montra is located in a part of Shelby County that has more hills than other areas. Its elevation is about 1,047 feet (319 meters) above sea level. Think of it as being on a slightly higher spot!
You can find Montra where Montra Road and Pasco-Montra Road meet. It's about one mile south of State Route 274. Montra is also in the middle of three nearby villages: Anna, Botkins, and Jackson Center.
A Look at Montra's Past
Montra was officially planned out in 1849 by two landowners, Isaac and William Mahuren. They finished surveying the area on May 22, and the plans were filed on June 30 of that year.
After the plans were made, houses and businesses quickly started to appear. The community soon had a hotel, a blacksmith's shop (where metal items were made), and even a store that sold drinks. A small school was also started, and a post office opened on February 27, 1850.
Two churches were also built in Montra. A Lutheran church was founded in 1860, and a Methodist church was started a few years later in 1864 or 1865. By the early 1880s, Montra had about forty houses and around 150 people living there.
Montra Today: A Smaller Community
Montra is smaller now than it was in the late 1800s. The community's post office closed on September 30, 1903. Since then, mail for Montra has been handled by the post office in Anna.
Today, Jackson Center is the biggest community in Jackson Township. While the Methodist church is no longer active, its cemetery is still there. The Emanuel Lutheran Church is still an active church. This church is a very important landmark on the east side of Montra. It was even added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 because of its historical importance.
