First United Methodist Church
Also known as: Methodist Episcopal Church; Moe-62-6
Why it's listed
Built in 1898-99 on the sandstone foundation of two earlier Methodist churches, this brick church at 136 North Main Street in Woodsfield combines Richardsonian Romanesque and Late Gothic Revival features. Local bricks, county-quarried sandstone, a crenellated bell tower, arched windows with sandstone hoodmolds and stained glass give the exterior its character. Inside, the Akron Plan places a corner pulpit before curved pews, with a sliding partition opening the Sunday School and social rooms to the sanctuary. A 1906-07 enlargement added a balcony, a south tower, classrooms and a Barckhoff pipe organ, partly funded by a Carnegie grant, that remains the largest in Monroe County. Oak pews and woodwork survive, and apart from the roof, wiring and plumbing the building is largely original. The congregation has used it for concerts, graduations and civic meetings, and several prominent local and national figures worshipped here. Its architecture and intact plan form the basis for its listing.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the church as an excellent, nearly intact example of a transitional Richardsonian Romanesque-Late Gothic Revival church with an interior based on the Akron Plan. It also notes the church's long role as a social and civic meeting place in Woodsfield, and its 1907 Barckhoff pipe organ, the largest in the county.
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 06000694, listed August 9, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 136 N. Main St., Woodsfield |
|---|---|
| County | Monroe County |
| Listed | August 9, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000694 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1899-1907 |
| Architect / builder | George Hubbard of Hubbard, Helbling & Co. (builder) |
| Architectural style | Richardson Romanesque; Late Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Communications |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In active use as a church and community meeting place, with the original Akron Plan layout and most interior features retained; the slate roof has been replaced. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.76372, -81.11487 (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 06000694.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5454014
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.