Second Baptist Church
Also known as: Eri-1769-3; Zion Baptist Church
Why it's listed
Second Baptist Church at 315 Decatur Street in Sandusky serves an African-American congregation that began in 1849. The present one-story church was built in 1929 on the original site, reportedly incorporating part of the mid-nineteenth-century building. It is clad in stretcher-bond brick over a wood frame, with a limestone foundation, a square bell tower with a battlement, Tudor-arched doorways and stained glass windows dedicated to church members. Inside, the sanctuary has gold-leaf pilaster capitals and two murals. The property also includes a ca. 1920 American foursquare parsonage and a 1930 concrete block garage. The congregation was originally known as Zion Baptist, later as First Regular Anti-Slavery Baptist Church, and took the name Second Baptist in 1920. Its roots lie in Sandusky's Underground Railroad activity. The church is significant for its long role in the city's Black community, including a large centennial celebration in 1949 that drew clergy from across Ohio.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is significant under Criterion A for its role in African-American ethnic heritage, social history and religion in Sandusky. The congregation dates to 1849 and has roots in the Underground Railroad. It remained an important and prominent part of the city's Black community through the early twentieth century, including its 1949 centennial.
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 02000061, listed May 14, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 315 Decatur St., Sandusky |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | May 14, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02000061 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1920-1951 |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival; Tudor Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Black, Social History, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The church and parsonage remain in religious use as listed in the current functions; the former parsonage is currently a rental property. The sanctuary was remodeled in the 1970s. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.45330, -82.71421 (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 02000061.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137769953
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.