St. Henry's Catholic Church (Harriettsville, Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Henry Roman Catholic Church
and Rectory |
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Front and western side
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 36573 County Road 47, Harriettsville, Ohio |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1894 |
| Architect | Adolphus Druiding |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 82001485 |
| Added to NRHP | December 2, 1982 |
St. Henry's Catholic Church is a very old and special Catholic church located in the quiet countryside of Harriettsville, Ohio. It was built for German families who settled there in the 1860s. The church building you see today was finished in the 1890s. It's unique because it's the only stone building in the area. A famous architect designed it, making it a truly important historic site.
Contents
The Story of St. Henry's Church
People first started settling in Noble County a long time ago. This was after a peace agreement called the Treaty of Greenville in 1795. The town of Harriettsville itself was planned out in 1839. Early settlers included people from France and many German families.
Early Churches in the Area
The first religious leaders in Noble County were traveling preachers. They often belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Harriettsville's first church group, even before the town was fully formed, started in 1832.
St. Henry's Church began later, in 1868. A small wooden church building was quickly built that same year. This first building was about 25 feet by 40 feet. It cost $1,800 to build, mostly paid for by one man, William Smithberger.
Before this church, Catholic families had to wait for a priest to visit from Immaculate Conception Church in Fulda. Now, they could attend Mass right in their own village. Most of the early church members were German or had German roots.
Growing Bigger
A parish school was started in the late 1870s. Over its first twenty years, the church grew a lot. It became four times bigger! Because of this growth, the first church building became too small.
So, in 1879, land was bought for a new, larger church. The construction of the beautiful stone church we see today was finished in 1894.
What Does St. Henry's Church Look Like?
St. Henry's Church is made of stone and built in the Gothic Revival style. This style often looks like old European cathedrals.
Key Features of the Church
The most noticeable part of the church is its tall tower. This tower has many levels on the front of the building. Small windows are placed along the tower's walls. The main part of the tower has a louvered belfry at the top. A belfry is where church bells are kept.
Crowning the entire tower is a very tall, pointed spire. A cross sits at the very top of the spire. There are empty spaces on the tower where large clocks could be placed.
The main part of the church is a simpler, rectangular shape. Its roof is covered with shingles and rises to a pointed gable at the front. Next to the church is a small wooden house called a rectory. This is where the priest lives. It was also built in the late 1800s.
Unique Design and Materials
Instead of hiring a local builder, the church members chose a famous architect named Adolphus Druiding from Chicago. He designed their new church.
Noble County, where the church is located, is mostly rural. Most buildings there are simple, traditional homes. St. Henry's Church stands out because it shows high-quality design and professional building skills. Also, very few buildings in the entire county are made of stone. St. Henry's Church is the only stone building in Harriettsville.
A Special Historic Site
In 1982, St. Henry's Church and its rectory were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of buildings, sites, and objects that are important in American history.
The church qualified for this list for two main reasons. First, its architecture is historically important. Second, it played a very important role in the history of the area.
St. Henry's is one of nine places in Noble County on the National Register. Another one is the Immaculate Conception Church in Fulda. That church helped the Catholics in Harriettsville before St. Henry's parish was even formed.
Images for kids
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Front and western side
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Baptist church at nearby Road Fork, a typical local church
