St. Mary's Catholic Church (Dayton, Ohio) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
St. Mary Roman Catholic Church
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Front and eastern side
Location in Ohio Show map of Ohio Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	543 Xenia Ave., Dayton, Ohio
Area	4 acres (1.6 ha)
Built	1906
Architect	John B. Vermont
Architectural style	Romanesque Revival
NRHP reference No.	83002012
Added to NRHP	April 21, 1983

St. Mary's Catholic Church is a beautiful old church in Dayton, Ohio, United States. It was built a long time ago, in the early 1900s. This church is still used today by many people. Its amazing design made it a special landmark for pilots during World War II. The United States government has even called it a historic site because it's so important.

A Look Back: The Church's Story

Stained glass window showing the Adoration of the Shepherds

The first Catholic church in Dayton was Emanuel Church, started in 1837. Many people joined, and it grew very quickly. By the late 1850s, there were so many people that a new church was needed.

A piece of land was chosen on Xenia Avenue in an eastern part of Dayton. The owner of the land was very kind and gave enough space for a church, a house for the priests (called a rectory), and a school.

• In April 1859, the first stone of the new church was laid. This is called a cornerstone.
• The church building was finished and officially opened in August 1860.
• It was about 110 feet long and 50 feet wide.

But even this new church became too small as more people joined. So, in the early 1900s, plans began for an even bigger church. The cornerstone for the current building was laid in July 1905. The new, larger church was finished and opened in November 1906.

The church continued to grow. In 1913, some families from St. Mary's started a new church called St. Anthony's. St. Mary's Catholic Church is still an active part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati today. Church services are held in both English and Spanish.

Amazing Architecture

Inside the church, looking from the back

The St. Mary's Church you see today is built in a style called Romanesque Revival. This style often uses round arches and strong, heavy walls, like old Roman buildings. The church is made from a mix of brick and stone.

John B. Vermont designed the church. It has two huge clock towers on the front. There are three big doors at the top of a staircase. You can also see large windows and many pairs of narrower windows higher up. Each window has a small dome above it.

The church cost about $125,000 to build back in 1905. The two tall towers made it a very important landmark. During World War II, pilots from the United States Army Air Forces used the church's towers to help them find their way to Wright Field. It was like a giant sign in the sky!

A Protected Historic Site

In April 1983, St. Mary's Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of buildings, sites, and objects that are important in American history. Even though it's a religious building, it was chosen because of its unique and beautiful architecture.

St. Mary's is one of five churches in Dayton that are on this important list. The others include Sacred Heart, St. Adalbert's, Holy Cross Catholic Churches, and First Lutheran Church.