First Presbyterian Church of Wapakoneta
Also known as: Wapakoneta Women's Club
Why it's listed
Built in 1861-62 for a small Presbyterian congregation, this one-story common bond brick building on West Main Street in Wapakoneta is a rare Ohio example of the distyle in antis form of Greek temple architecture. Its gable end faces the street, and a recessed central entrance is framed by paired Tuscan columns. The nomination reports no other example of the mode in west-central Ohio. Many of the congregation's identifiable members held public office, including mayor, county judge, auditor and postmaster, which ties the church to early Auglaize County leadership. After a financial scandal and a drop in membership, the congregation dissolved in 1930 and the property passed to the Wapakoneta Woman's Club. The club removed the cupola and added a rear meeting space, but the building survived while other churches of its period were enlarged or razed. It is the oldest church building in Wapakoneta and the oldest Protestant church in the county.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the only example of the distyle in antis mode of Greek Revival architecture in west-central Ohio. It is also tied to early Auglaize County's politically influential citizens, since most of the congregation's identifiable members held public office. It is the oldest church building in Wapakoneta and the oldest Protestant church building in the county.
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 85001797, listed August 23, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 106 W. Main St., Wapakoneta |
|---|---|
| County | Auglaize County |
| Listed | August 23, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001797 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1861-62 |
| Architect / builder | David Hawkey |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival (distyle in antis mode) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in good condition; used by the Wapakoneta Woman's Club, which has also rented it to religious groups for Sunday services. The bell tower was removed in the 1930s and a rear brick addition was made. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.56995, -84.19652 (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 85001797.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5453713
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.