Gruenwald Convent
Also known as: Green Forest Convent; McDowell House
Why it's listed
Gruenwald Convent, also called Green Forest Convent, is a vernacular brick building put up in 1854 about 1.2 miles south of Cassella in Mercer County, Ohio. It was the fifth convent built by Father Brunner of the Precious Blood between 1845 and 1856. Its walls are handmade brick laid in stretcher bond over a stone foundation, under a gable roof, with a summer kitchen attached at the rear. The rough brick surface and the starkness of the design are apparent, and a matched pair of windows in the gable end is typical of brick houses along the Miami-Erie Canal. The convent was one of ten in the area whose nuns served the many German Catholic settlers, and it is one of three that remain intact. The sisters sold the building in 1923, and it now serves as a residence. A cemetery and other convent buildings were later added across the road. The exterior remains largely unaltered.
Significance in brief: It was one of ten convents in the Mercer County area that housed and schooled nuns serving the large influx of German Catholics. It is one of only three of these convents still standing intact. It also shows a plain vernacular brick design typical of houses along the Miami-Erie Canal.
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 79002813, listed July 26, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | .5 mi. S of Cassella, Cassella |
|---|---|
| County | Mercer County |
| Listed | July 26, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002813 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1854 |
| Architectural style | Vernacular |
| Areas of significance | Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a residence; exterior is unaltered and fairly well maintained, with condition listed as fair. The sisters sold the building in 1923. |
| Coordinates | 40.40046, -84.55090 (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 79002813.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5611962
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.