Immaculate Conception Church
Why it's listed
Immaculate Conception Church, at 708 Erie Street in Grafton, Ohio, is a sandstone church built between 1864 and 1871. It measures 45 by 80 feet and has a centrally placed three-stage tower with an open belfry and a domed roof. Round-arched windows alternate with buttresses along the side walls, and the interior sanctuary is a large open hall seating about 250, ending in a semicircular apse. The original nineteenth-century stained glass remains. A sandstone rectory, linked to the church by an arcaded ambulatory, was added in 1909-1910. The parish traces its roots to a mission founded in 1840 at LaPorte, and it was established at Grafton in 1862 after quarries and a railroad brought Catholic families to the area. It is described as the oldest Catholic parish between Cleveland and Sandusky. The design is considered an unusually fine Romanesque Revival work, possibly influenced by the domed churches of southwestern France.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls the church an unusually fine example of Romanesque Revival architecture for its date and place. It is also the second building of the oldest Catholic parish between Cleveland and Sandusky. Its domed tower and design may reflect a regional French Romanesque style, an eclectic approach normally found only after about 1880.
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 76001469, listed March 16, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 708 Erie St., Grafton |
|---|---|
| County | Lorain County |
| Listed | March 16, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001469 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1864-1871 |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in excellent condition, occupied, and used as a church; the original stained glass survives. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.27699, -82.05991 (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 76001469.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14716483
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.