St. Augustine's Catholic Church
Why it's listed
Rising above the blocks just east of Napoleon's central business district, St. Augustine's Catholic Church is a brick High Victorian Gothic building on a prominent corner lot, with a rectory behind it and a school to the southeast. A tall tower and steeple crowned by a gilt cross rise over the central entrance, and pointed arches appear on every wall surface. The interior is an open Gothic space with plaster ribbing, carved pews, altars, pulpit and stations of the cross, nearly all original. The parish began in 1858 as the area's first permanent mission church, drawing many Irish families who had worked on the Miami and Erie Canal. Under Fr. Michael Peutz, the congregation raised funds for a new church, begun in 1881 and finished in 1883 at a cost of $21,893. Otto Honeck did most of the construction, and Toledo architect Alexander Young is credited as designer. It is valued for its architecture and for Young's rare surviving work.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is an outstanding example of ecclesiastical High Victorian Gothic architecture, inside and out, with Gothic motifs throughout its walls, windows, woodwork and furnishings. It is also one of the few known surviving works of 19th-century Toledo architect Alexander Young. It has remained the symbol of Catholicism in Henry County and Napoleon.
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 82003593, listed September 2, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 221 E. Clinton St. at corner of Monroe, Napoleon |
|---|---|
| County | Henry County |
| Listed | September 2, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003593 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific dates 1881-1883) |
| Architect / builder | Otto Honeck (Napoleon)/Alex Young (Toledo) |
| Architectural style | High Victorian Gothic |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied, religious use, in excellent condition; altered only by replacement of the front doors and removal of the communion rail, plus periodic repainting and recarpeting. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 41.39246, -84.12365 (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 82003593.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7587139
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.