First Congregational Church
Also known as: First United Church of Christ, Congregational
Why it's listed
This limestone church at 802 Prairie Street in Marblehead, Ohio, was built in 1900 for a Congregational group founded in 1873 with 17 members. Chicago architect Oliver W. Marble designed it, and Ed Bertsch was the builder. The walls are locally quarried rock-faced limestone, and a massive corner tower with a round-arch entry dominates the facade. Stained glass, paired windows with stone mullions and transom bars, and intersecting gables on a hipped roof mark the Richardsonian Romanesque style. Inside, the plan follows the Akron Plan, with Sunday School and class rooms opening into the main auditorium through wood roll-up doors. The pulpit sits in a corner diagonally opposite the entrance, with curved pews and radiating aisles. The tower is topped by an unusual astrolabe, probably reflecting the area's nautical heritage. It was listed for architecture because it is a representative example of this church type and retains a high degree of integrity despite minor changes such as a new roof material.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is a significant example of an Akron Plan church, in the corner-pulpit sub-type, and of the Richardsonian Romanesque style under Criterion C. Its interior arrangement and its exterior of rock-faced limestone, round arches, a corner tower and intersecting gables closely follow the standard form for such churches. It retains a high degree of integrity.
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 00001161, listed September 22, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 802 Prairie St., Marblehead |
|---|---|
| County | Ottawa County |
| Listed | September 22, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00001161 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900 |
| Architect / builder | Marble, Oliver W. (architect); Bertsch, Ed (builder) |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a religious facility; changes over time have been few and minor, including an asphalt shingle roof replacing slate and a replacement astrolabe on the tower. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.54235, -82.73466 (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 00001161.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5452809
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.