Heritage News * of Chillicothe, Ross County & South-Central Ohio


Brief Introduction

(See Full Introduction).

Religious organizations are sacred and traditional institutions, and as such, are very important members of society. They contribute to the vitality of their environment, whether it be a crossroads or bustling downtown metropolis. I know full well their importance, being a historian and churchgoer.

But like all other organizations in an urban setting, they can also be destructive.

This DRAFT webpage is a summary of losses of buildings in the Chillicothe downtown and adjacent old neighborhoods because of demolitions by church organizations. (When you see a hyperlink in text describing the result of a demolition, that is a link to an aerial view of the church environs.)


Chillicothe Demolitions by Churches : Downtown and Vicinity

Aerial photo of inner Chillicothe, showing locations of churches in the downtown and vicinity (in BLUE), and sites of past, current, or planned demolitions by Churches (in RED).


No Demolitions

Demolitions

  1. Original Episcopal Church (and First Catholic Church) and other houses

    2. 17 South Walnut Street Street and other addresses.

    One of earliest church buildings in city at 17 South Walnut Street, built 1821 as the first Episcopal Church bulding in the Northwest Territory. Sold in 1837 and used as St. Mary's, the first Catholic church in Chillicothe. A wood frame house was moved to beside church and served as rectory and church school.

    Former church, rectory/school, and adjacent houses demolished 1965 by Walnut Street Methodist Church for parking lot.

    This is outside of the official Preservation District and before it was formed.

    ABOVE: Appearance when built in 1821 or soon after. RIGHT: Appearance in 1956.

    Sources: St. Mary's Parish - 150 Years by John Grabb, 1986; St. Mary's Church - Chillicothe, Ohio - Centennial 1869-1969.



  2. Lunbeck Apartments or Cruit Furniture Building

    3. 92 East Main Street at the southwest corner of Mulberry Street. 1885 Italianate styled three-story brick commercial building with early elevator. Demolished 30 November 1978 by Trinity United Methodist Church for a drive-through and green space.

    Somewhat mitigated by attractively landscaped area and low screening wall - but as noted when the building was being demolished, it was one of two 19thC buildings flanking the "Town Church" design of Trinity. "Its unfortunate removal will leave the left side of the church exposed in an unbecoming way." (Rex Hagerling, OHI form ROS-310-7, 1978)



  3. African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church

    4. 181 West Main Street. Church has apparently demolished one or two buildings to gain parking lots, possibly 1970s-80s.

    This is outside of the official Preservation District. Church apparently also uses adjacent commercial parking lot (which destroyed two houses, one of which was significant in the Underground railroad).


  4. Wood Frame House

    5. 68 West Main Street (beside Gazette; Greathouse (1938) or Brandon (1960) residence). Late 19thC wood frame house that contributed to the varied streetscape. Demolished about 1986 by Lutheran Church for green space.



  5. commercial building

    6. West side of Mulberry Street south of East Main Street. Late Victorian three-story brick commercial building behind Lunbeck Apartments site. Demolished about 1990 by Trinity United Methodist Church for a parking lot.



  6. St. Mary's School and a House

    7. 20 & 40 East Fourth Street. 1912 Dutch Revival three-story brick and stone parochial school building of architectural significance demolished 1994 for church parking lot. The nearby two-story wood frame house (Fielding Residence in 1938, four apartments in 1968) was demolished for a new parish hall.

    Somewhat mitigated by statuary, landscaping, and retaining school's screening wall; and new hall echoing neighboring architectural elements.



Chillicothe Demolitions by Churches : Downtown and Vicinity
(Continued in Part 2)


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