St. George Parish and Newman Center
Why it's listed
St. George Church is a Romanesque Revival church at 42 Calhoun Street in Cincinnati's Corryville neighborhood. Designed by Samuel Hannaford and built in 1872-1873, it measures about 70 by 160 feet and originally seated 1,200. Its brick walls carry sandstone trim, corbeled brickwork, arched bays and a circular wheel window. Twin spires with octagonal steeples and Latin crosses rise 190 feet, each with four clocks. The congregation began in 1868, when Reverend Otto Jair purchased two lots and a two-story brick building served as chapel and school. Archbishop John Purcell laid the cornerstone in 1872, and the church was dedicated in 1874 before a crowd of 5,000. Later additions include art glass in 1889, a parochial school in 1914, and a parsonage and monastery in 1928. The church stands on the highest point in Corryville and was included as one of Hannaford's notable works, valued for its detailing and its prominent setting.
Significance in brief: The church is nominated as part of a thematic group of works by architect Samuel Hannaford. It is described as an outstanding example of Romanesque Revival design, with twin 190-foot spires, corbeled brickwork, sandstone trim and a wheel window. It sits on the highest point in Corryville and towers over the area.
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 80003088, listed March 3, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 42 Calhoun St., Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | March 3, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003088 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Samuel Hannaford (architect); builder unknown |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition inside and out, in use as a church; open to the public on a restricted basis. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 39.12861, -84.51251 (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 80003088.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7588217
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.