Precious Blood Catholic Church (Chickasaw, Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Chickasaw School and Rectory
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Front and side of the rectory
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Maple St., Chickasaw, Ohio |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1904 |
| Architect | DeCurtins |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| MPS | Cross-Tipped Churches of Ohio TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002848 |
| Added to NRHP | July 26, 1979 |
Precious Blood Catholic Church is a historic church in Chickasaw, Ohio. It was built in 1903 and is still an active church today. Two of its oldest buildings are now special historic sites.
Contents
The Start of Precious Blood Church
Long ago, Catholics in Chickasaw went to St. Sebastian's Church. This church was about two miles away. In 1897, the people of Chickasaw built a small church in their village. They used it for services during the week.
It was hard for villagers to get to St. Sebastian's. Most people did not own horses. So, they wanted their own church. In January 1903, the Chickasaw members left St. Sebastian's. They took their church items with them.
A week later, St. Sebastian's Church was destroyed by a fire. People had to decide if they would rebuild. The church then split into two parts. Some members rebuilt St. Sebastian's. The small chapel in Chickasaw became the new Precious Blood Church. Fifty-eight families were the first members.
The church quickly grew. By the end of 1903, the chapel was made bigger. In 1904, a brick rectory was built. It cost about $4,000. The church grew fast. By 1907, there were seventy families. In 1908, the church built a parish school. It was across the street from the rectory.
Precious Blood Church is one of the newer Catholic churches in Mercer County. Only two others are newer.
Important Buildings of the Church
The Church Building
The first church building was built in 1894 and 1895. It was first a hall, then a chapel. After the church started in 1903, a wooden part was added. The building was painted, and new windows were put in. This was done by July of that year.
After World War II, more people joined the church. The old building became too small. So, plans were made for a new church. Work on the new building started in late 1965. It was officially opened on February 23, 1967. This church is made of brick. It is shaped like a cross and has a basement. The main worship area can hold over four hundred people.
The School Building
The Precious Blood School is a two-story brick building. It sits on a strong stone foundation. It was built in the Italianate style by the DeCurtins brothers. It has a tall, square bell tower in the middle. People enter through double doors. Above the doors is a round window.
In the late 1950s, a new law was made in Ohio. It said that all Ohio students could have free high school education. Because of this law, Chickasaw's public school joined with Marion Township's school system. The parish school then closed. The church later sold the building. It is now owned by a local group called the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
The Rectory Building
The Precious Blood Rectory is also a two-story brick building. It has a stone foundation, like the school. It has a hip roof with windows sticking out on all sides. The front door has a porch with wooden columns and a railing.
Many churches in the area built rectories in the early 1900s. This was because the Archdiocese of Cincinnati said each church should house its pastor. The Chickasaw rectory looks like many others built then. They were often two-story square buildings with hip roofs and porches. People think this common design was popular because of the Sears Roebuck catalogue.
The Church Today
Historic Recognition
In 1979, the rectory and the old school became National Historic Places. They were special because of their well-kept architecture. They also helped tell the history of Ohio. These buildings were among over thirty places in western Ohio. These places were linked to the Society of the Precious Blood. Most were churches, but some rectories and schools were included too.
Many of these churches have tall, Gothic Revival towers. These towers gave the area its nickname: the "Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches."
Current Status
Today, Precious Blood is an active church in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. It is part of a group of five churches. These churches are in Marion Township. They form the Marion Catholic Community. Two priests lead this group of churches. The entire group is part of the St. Marys Deanery.
