St. Paul's Catholic Church and Rectory
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
St. Paul's Catholic Church and its rectory form the center of the small crossroads hamlet of Sharpsburg in Mercer County, Ohio. Local families built a frame church in 1868, but a thunderbolt destroyed it in 1887, and the congregation took this as a sign to build a new one. The present brick church, completed in 1889 in the Gothic style, has a slate gable roof, stone foundation and a facade dominated by triple pointed arches, a central tower and a decorated frieze. A belfry is topped by a gold cross above a gold ball representing the world. Stained glass windows carry the names of donors. The interior was stripped and modernized in 1970, while the exterior was left unaltered. The brick rectory, built about 1902 in a vernacular style, has a hipped slate roof, metal ridge ornaments, decorative shingles and leaded glass windows. Both buildings remain in use by the parish.
Significance in brief: The church was built in 1889 after a lightning strike destroyed the parish's 1868 frame church, and it represents a second-generation Catholic church. It is the nucleus of the hamlet and is notable for its pointed arches, central tower and decorated frieze. The rectory is a vernacular building with decorative roof and window details, tied to the parish's early history.
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 79002827, listed July 26, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | R.R. 1, Ft. Recovery, Sharpsburg |
|---|---|
| County | Mercer County |
| Listed | July 26, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002827 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | De Curtins (architect or engineer, church) |
| Architectural style | Gothic (church); Vernacular (rectory) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Church and rectory remain in use. Church interior was remodeled in 1970 while the exterior was not altered; exterior condition is good for both. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.36727, -84.71145 (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 79002827.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138588524
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.