South Leroy Meetinghouse
Also known as: LeRoy Methodist Episcopal Church; Brakeman Church
Why it's listed
This small wooden church stands at the corner of Route 86 and Brakeman Road in Leroy Township, Lake County. Built in 1845 for the Methodist Episcopal Church at a cost of $1,000, it measures 36 by 46 feet and has mortised and pegged timbers, clapboard siding, a gable roof and no steeple. Plain Greek Revival details include a simple cornice and frieze, small cornice returns and a center doorway framed by pilasters and an entablature. Henry Brakeman provided the lot, and local builders constructed the church. Beyond services, weddings and funerals, the building hosted district school graduations from 1898 to 1941, along with class plays, Christmas programs, social events and musical recitals, since it was the only large meeting hall in the township. It is recognized locally as the township's only significant historic public building. The church gave it to the township trustees in 1975 for continued community use, and volunteers and donations paid for its 1976 repairs.
Significance in brief: It is a typical small rural church of the Greek Revival period. It served as a community meeting house from at least 1898 and is recognized locally as the only significant historic public building in the township.
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 79001873, listed May 8, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NE of Painesville at OH 86 and Brakeman Rd., Painesville |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Listed | May 8, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001873 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1845 |
| Architect / builder | Local builders (unnamed); lot provided by Henry Brakeman |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Given by the Methodist Church to Leroy Township Trustees in 1975 for continued use as a community meeting house; repaired, cleaned and painted in 1976. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.66406, -81.14672 (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 79001873.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7567817
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.