{"nrhp_refnum":"100001583","name":"Baptist Church of Springville, The (Boundary Increase)","other_names":["Free Baptist Church of the Springville, First Baptist Church","of Springville, Springville Center for the Arts"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"37 N. Buffalo St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Springville","county":"Erie County","state":"NY","lat":null,"lon":null,"geom_source":null},"listed_date":"2017-09-11","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture","Social History"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A Gothic Revival brick church at 37 North Buffalo Street in the village of Springville, Erie County, New York, built in 1869 for the Free Will Baptist congregation and expanded in 1913-14. It is now used as an arts center and theater.","why_significant":"The church is significant as a good example of Gothic Revival architecture and as an intact work of regional architect Cyrus K. Porter, with its off-center tower, Tudor arches and lancet windows. It also reflects the development of Springville's civic and religious center and its Baptist congregations, including the 1913 merger of two congregations.","narrative":"Built in 1869 for the Free Will Baptist congregation, this red brick church with limestone trim stands at 37 North Buffalo Street in Springville, near the village green and several other churches and civic buildings. Its Gothic Revival design includes crenellations, lancet windows, Tudor arches and an off-center bell tower. Cyrus K. Porter was the original architect. In 1913-14, after the First Baptist and Free Baptist congregations merged, the building was renovated to designs by F.L. Buckley. The work added an L-shaped narthex and a shed-roofed rear addition, repaired the north wall, and installed art glass windows and a pipe organ. The building holds twenty-nine stained glass windows and a Troy-cast bell. Further changes came in 1953, when a second floor and basement were added in the south wing. The congregation sold the property in 2005, and the sanctuary now serves as a theater. The church was listed for its architecture and its role in the village's social and religious history.","period_of_significance":"1869-1914","architect_builder":"Cyrus K. Porter, architect, S.R. Smith, builder (1869); F.L. Buckley, architect, Lakeshore Construction, builder (1914); Booth Art Glass Works, stained glass (1913)","architectural_style":"Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals / Late Gothic Revival","criteria":["A","C"],"status_note":"Sold by the Baptist congregation in 2005 and now used as an auditorium/theater and gallery space; some interior materials are in storage awaiting restoration.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:50:47.987229-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_NY/08001140.pdf"},"photo":null,"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75317544","wikipedia":null,"wikidata":null},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/new-york/erie-county/baptist-church-of-springville-the-boundary-increase-100001583/"}