St. Severin's Old Log Church
Why it's listed
Built of square-hewn white pine logs on a rock foundation, St. Severin's Old Log Church is a one and one-half story gable-roofed building measuring about forty by twenty-four feet, topped by an inset steeple with an octagonal roof. German Catholic settlers who had immigrated to the area during the 1840s raised it, and the Bishop of Pittsburgh, Michael O'Conner, dedicated it on September 2, 1851. The original parish comprised thirty-five families, and the church was named for St. Severin, the patron of the first family, Severin Nebel. Its dovetailed log walls, peaked sill corners and single large interior room with a loft reflect early log construction. The church served the congregation until about 1880, when a larger church was built nearby. The surviving log building is valued for its rarity, being among the few early log structures remaining in northcentral Pennsylvania. Adjacent ruins of a rectory and a cemetery, blessed in 1852, remain on the grounds.
Significance in brief: The church was built by German Catholic settlers who arrived in the area during the 1840s and served as the parish church for the original congregation of thirty-five families. The form argues it is architecturally important as one of the few remaining early log structures in northcentral Pennsylvania. Its cemetery, containing graves of many original settlers, is also part of the property.
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 75001633, listed June 5, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | W of Cooper Settlement off PA 53, Cooper Settlement |
|---|---|
| County | Clearfield County |
| Listed | June 5, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001633 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1851 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Partially restored in 1967 with cement rechinking of log cracks; the stone center chimney was later removed, and a larger church was erected nearby around 1880. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 41.03170, -78.11042 (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 75001633.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7591675
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.