St. Mary's Catholic Church
Also known as: Catholic Church of St. Mary,Mother of God; Neue Katholishe Mu
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Why it's listed
Twin-towered and built of rusticated Massillon sandstone, the Catholic Church of St. Mary, Mother of God, at 206 Cherry Road NE in Massillon is a High Victorian Gothic landmark. It measures 185 feet by 85 feet and has a Latin cross roof, a rose window above the entrances, and tall stained glass windows along its sides. Dayton architect Leon Beaver designed it for a German Catholic congregation, and the cornerstone was laid in September 1876. Construction moved slowly after the Panic of 1873. Work halted in 1878, masses began in 1880, the church was dedicated in 1892, and one tower was finished around 1905. The site also reflects the local Catholic community's struggles. Early Irish and German Catholics faced preaching and newspaper attacks, and their first church was burned in 1852 and later rebuilt. Interior changes occurred through the 20th century, yet the exterior remains close to its original design.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an outstanding example of High Victorian Gothic architecture. It is also an important link to the Catholic heritage of Massillon, tied to a German congregation that persisted despite local anti-Catholic hostility, including the burning of an earlier church in 1852.
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 79001952, listed April 16, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 206 Cherry Rd., NE, Massillon |
|---|---|
| County | Stark County |
| Listed | April 16, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001952 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Dayton Architect Leon Beaver |
| Architectural style | High Victorian Gothic |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is marked excellent and altered; the church is occupied and in religious use. The interior was modified in the 20th century. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.80226, -81.52275 (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 79001952.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7590114
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.