Nelsonville Cross facts for kids
| Coordinates | 39°27′43″N 82°13′40″W / 39.46197°N 82.22774°W |
|---|---|
| Location | Nelsonville, Ohio |
| Type | Christian Cross |
| Length | 4.5 ft. |
| Width | 25 ft. |
| Height | 65 ft. |
| Completion date | 8 April 1973 |
| Dedicated to | Elizabeth Anita (Smith) Schwartz |
The Nelsonville Cross is a large metal cross monument in Nelsonville, Ohio. It is also known as the Elizabeth Schwartz Memorial Cross. This cross is special because it's the only big metal cross in the world dedicated to a woman.
It stands 65 feet tall, is 4.5 feet thick, and its arms stretch 25 feet wide. This bright, glowing cross shows one man's deep love for his wife and his strong religious belief.
Contents
The Nelsonville Cross Story
Meet Bud and Betty Schwartz
Walter L. “Bud” Schwartz was born in Warren County, Ohio, on May 31, 1906. Elizabeth Anita “Betty” Smith was born in Nelsonville on April 8, 1907. They got married on July 22, 1930, at Buckeye Lake, Ohio.
Betty loved growing up in Nelsonville. After high school, she moved to Columbus, Ohio, to study nursing. Bud took night classes to learn about electronics. Later, they lived in Columbus. Betty worked as a manager at a big department store. Bud ran a drugstore with an electronics repair shop.
Betty passed away on January 25, 1972, when she was 66 years old. Bud was very sad. He often visited Nelsonville to help him feel better. Every Sunday, he went to the First Presbyterian Church, which Betty attended as a child. He also drove by her childhood home.
Bud, along with the church's pastor, Rev. John Lloyd Evans, and his wife, decided to build a cross. It would overlook the city to honor Betty and show respect to God.
Bud passed away on October 30, 1989, in Columbus. He was buried next to Betty in Greenlawn Cemetery in Nelsonville.
Building the Cross
The land for the cross was given by the Nelsonville Lumber Company. On Sunday, April 8, 1973, the cross was put up. It was placed on the highest point in the city, called the Millet or Kontner Hill.
A special sign at the bottom of the cross thanks everyone who helped. It says the park is a memorial to Bud's "dear beloved and wonderful wife 'Betty'." It also thanks the pastor, Mrs. Emily Sharp Hennessey (who gave land), and many others.
Another smaller sign simply says: Nelsonville Cross A Tribute to God A Memorial to Betty
A Columbus architect named Fred Wright designed the cross. It sits on a base covered with shiny granite panels. This base lifts the cross 8.5 feet off the ground. The whole monument was originally 73.5 feet tall.
The cross has a strong concrete base hidden underground. It weighs 64 tons! The visible part of the cross was made from steel covered with painted aluminum. When it was built, it was the largest cross in the world. It cost $17,500 to build, which would be over $93,300 today. Bud gave the land to the church to manage for all Christian churches in the city.
A Song for the Cross
The next year, Bud wrote a song called “Beautiful Nelsonville Cross.” Two women, Luella Shew and Virginia Watters, created the music for it. People could buy the song for $1. All the money went to a fund to help take care of the cross.
Keeping the Cross Beautiful
Bud wanted the fund to maintain the cross and create a peaceful park. By 1974, a small road was built for visitors. Emily Sharp Hennessy, who grew up in Nelsonville, gave more land. This made the park bigger and allowed for a better access road.
In 1977, a local committee improved the area. They fixed the road, planted grass and bushes, and added a fence around the park.
In 1975, some small fires happened near the cross, but they didn't cause damage. However, in June 1981, strong winds badly damaged the cross. Bud used the maintenance money, but he also had to sell his home to pay for repairs. The rebuilding cost over $30,000.
The new cross was put up in October 1983. Bud was there to see it. He told a local reporter that he felt it was his duty to Nelsonville to rebuild the cross. He wanted it to be a place for tourists to visit.
A few years later, people damaged the lights on the cross. This made it hard to see at night. In 1996, a local bank and community members fixed the lights. They also put the new lights in a special box on a pole to protect them. A company bought land nearby and removed trees that blocked the view of the cross from the city.
The Cross Today
The Nelsonville Cross still stands tall. You can see it day and night from most parts of the city. This is thanks to the local community's efforts to keep it well-maintained.
If you want to visit the cross, turn onto Saint Charles Street from Poplar Street. Then, just drive to the very end of that road.
