Oakwood Cemetery Chapel
Why it's listed
Built in 1898 near the north entrance of Oakwood Cemetery in Cuyahoga Falls, this small chapel measures about 40 by 20 feet and combines a stone foundation, red brick walls and a Colonial Revival porch. Architect C. Leroy Herrick designed it, and Cuyahoga Falls brick contractor Reed Deeds supervised construction. The Ladies Cemetery Association, founded in 1888 to help maintain and beautify the cemetery, raised the funds and still owns the building. Its design draws on High Victorian Gothic features, including contrasting brick and stone, a complex gable roof and lancet windows in pairs and triplets. Twelve stained glass memorial windows were donated in 1898 by local families and fraternal and social organizations, honoring early settlers and community groups. The roof was changed from slate to asphalt shingles in 1973, and the oak interior woodwork was stripped of paint in the late 1970s. It was listed for its architectural significance as a cemetery chapel, with comparison made to the earlier, more ornate chapel at Glendale Cemetery in Akron.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the chapel is a fine example of cemetery-related architecture under Criterion C. Its eclectic late 19th century design draws on High Victorian Gothic elements such as polychrome masonry, complex gable roofs and paired and tripled lancet windows, with a Colonial Revival porch. Its twelve memorial stained glass windows, donated in 1898 by local families and organizations, add artistic value.
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 99001334, listed November 12, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2420 Oakwood Dr., Cuyahoga Falls |
|---|---|
| County | Summit County |
| Listed | November 12, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99001334 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1898 |
| Architect / builder | Architect-Herrick, C. Leroy; Builder-Deeds, Reed |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Gothic Revival; Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Colonial Revivals |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Art |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the Ladies Cemetery Association and open to the public only on Memorial Day; the basement is used mainly for maintenance storage. Current functions are listed as meeting hall and clubhouse. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.14356, -81.48720 (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 99001334.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7074297
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.