First Universalish Church of Sharpsville
Why it's listed
Built of red pressed brick with Amherst bluestone trim, the church at 131 N. Mercer Avenue in Sharpsville has its cornerstone laid October 10, 1882, and was dedicated February 10, 1884. Its polychrome exterior, carved stone coping, dogtooth gable ornament and gothic arches of alternating brick and stone make it a showpiece of High Victorian Gothic design. Inside, an auditorium-style sanctuary is joined to Akron plan Sunday school rooms by folding doors, a layout tied to the national spread of that arrangement after 1870. The congregation was organized in 1875 through the support of General James Pierce and his family, whose donations funded the lot and most of the construction. The building is also notable for its early opalescent glass, painted lancet windows, and a Pomplitz organ, believed to be the oldest surviving instrument in Mercer County. The architect was Samuel W. Foulk of Greenville. Services ceased around 1923, and the building was later used by other congregations before being sold to a historical society in 2000.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is a locally important example of late Victorian church architecture, with high-style decoration, polychrome brick and stone, and early use of opalescent glass. It is also tied to General James Pierce and his family, who founded the congregation, and to the Akron plan of Sunday school design.
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 03000491, listed May 29, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 131 N. Mercer Ave., Sharpsville |
|---|---|
| County | Mercer County |
| Listed | May 29, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03000491 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1882-1884 |
| Architect / builder | Samuel W. Foulk (architect) |
| Architectural style | High Victorian Gothic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The church building was sold in 2000 to the Sharpsville Area Historical Society; the document describes its interior and exterior as well preserved. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.26646, -80.47551 (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 03000491.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5454044
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.