First Presbyterian Church of Ontario Center
Why it's listed
Built in 1914 on Ridge Road in the hamlet of Ontario Center, this Presbyterian church is a restrained Tudor Revival building with a cross-gable roof and a massive square corner tower topped by a crenelated parapet. Its walls are cast concrete made to look like roughly hewn stone, a relatively inexpensive modern material that gives the plain rectangular building a more monumental appearance. Gothic-arched stained-glass windows and cast concrete buttresses mark the front and side walls. Inside, the original curved oak pews are arranged in an Akron plan, and the sanctuary also retains hardwood floors, plaster walls with simple chair rails, an oak lectern and altar balustrade, and a pipe organ. The congregation built the church after outgrowing its 1843 predecessor on the same site. A 1924 parish hall stands nearby but is excluded from the significance because of later alterations. The church was recognized for its architecture and remains a prominent local landmark and focus of community activity.
Significance in brief: The church is presented as an intact, representative example of early twentieth century religious architecture in Ontario Center. It uses inexpensive cast concrete made to resemble rusticated masonry to give a simple cross-gable building a sense of monumentality. Its interior survives with a high degree of integrity, and the church remains a local landmark and focal point.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 98000665, listed June 3, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1638 Ridge Rd., Ontario Center |
|---|---|
| County | Wayne County |
| Listed | June 3, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98000665 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1914 |
| Architectural style | Early 20th Century: Tudor Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a church; the 1924 parish hall is noncontributing because of modern siding and replacement windows. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Coordinates | 43.22543, -77.30141 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 98000665.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5453701
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.