Sacred Heart Catholic Church (McCartyville, Ohio)
Encyclopedia
Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church is a parish
of the Roman Catholic Church in McCartyville
, Ohio
, United States
. Founded in the late nineteenth century, it remains an active parish to the present day. Its rectory
, which was built in the early twentieth century, has been designated a historic site
.
region, revealing fertile prairies. As these lands became open for farming, and as the construction of the Miami and Erie Canal
created significant demand for laborers, the economy of western Ohio grew rapidly. Most settlers in the region were German farmers, while significant numbers of the canal workers were Irish
. By 1850, priests of the Society of the Precious Blood
had become established in the village of Minster
, approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) west of McCartyville. From that place, they spread out to serve the Catholics of the surrounding region.
Located in northwestern Shelby County
, approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) apart, the two heavily Catholic communities of St. Patrick
and McCartyville
chose to coöperate in both civil and religious matters. In order to save resources, it was decided that individuals living near St. Patrick would go to McCartyville for their post office
, while McCartyville's settlers would travel to St. Patrick for worship. St. Patrick's Catholic Church
was organized in 1862; it was originally served by priests from Minster, and from Fort Loramie
to the southwest. This arrangement endured until 1882; in this year, the McCartyville parishioners were separated into their own parish, which was dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
. Twenty families formed the charter membership of the new church, which was the last parish to be created within the original boundaries of St. Augustine parish in Minster. Precious Blood priests continued to serve the parish until 1906; since that time, the parish has been served by diocesan priests.
just east of its intersection with State Route 29. A cemetery
is also associated with the church.
were enjoined to construct rectories
for their priests. Many of these houses were simple two-story
rectangular brick structures with hipped roofs
. The rectory at Sacred Heart church, which is similar to many other rectories in the region, lies immediately west of the church. Built in 1911, it is a square-shaped building with three bays
on each side that rests upon a foundation of cut stone
with a concrete water table
and a basement. Among its distinctive architectural features are a prominent cornice
, large lug sills and lintels
around the windows, and sidelight
s on both sides of the main entrance. Dominating the facade
is a massive verandah
-style porch with heavy brick pillars and a brick railing. The interior may be accessed through the recessed front door on the porch or through an exterior in-ground basement entrance.
for their children, because the Society and the settlers of the region placed great emphasis on Catholic education. Sacred Heart was one of these churches; its present school building was constructed in 1930. After only a few years of use, the school closed, and its building was sold to the state government
for use as a public school.
program of the Ohio Historical Society
. The inventory found no evidence of a preservation program for the house; however, it was seen as being in good condition without any threats to its historic integrity. Although it was assessed at that time as being ineligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places
, it was listed on the Register two years later because of its historically significant architecture. It was one of more than thirty different Catholic churches, rectories, and other buildings to be added together to the Register; they composed a multiple property submission of buildings in western Ohio connected to the Society of the Precious Blood. Many of the churches in the region feature tall steeples
that can be seen from far away; as a result, the region has become known as the "Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches
."
Unlike its sister parish in St. Patrick, Sacred Heart remains an active parish in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. It is clustered with Immaculate Conception parish
in Botkins
and St. Lawrence parish in Rhine; all three churches are part of the Sidney Deanery
.
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of the Roman Catholic Church in McCartyville
McCartyville, Ohio
McCartyville is an unincorporated community in Shelby County, Ohio, United States. Located at the junction of State Routes 29 and 119, it lies in southern Van Buren Township, south of central Kettlersville and approximately northwest of the city of Sidney, the county seat of Shelby County...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founded in the late nineteenth century, it remains an active parish to the present day. Its rectory
Rectory
A rectory is the residence, or former residence, of a rector, most often a Christian cleric, but in some cases an academic rector or other person with that title...
, which was built in the early twentieth century, has been designated a historic site
Historic site
A historic site is an official location where pieces of political, military or social history have been preserved. Historic sites are usually protected by law, and many have recognized with the official national historic site status...
.
Parish history
During the middle third of the nineteenth century, Ohioans began to clear the forests of the Great Black SwampGreat Black Swamp
The Great Black Swamp, or simply Black Swamp, was a glacially caused wetland in northwest Ohio, United States, extending into extreme northeastern Indiana, that existed from the end of the Wisconsin glaciation until the late 19th century...
region, revealing fertile prairies. As these lands became open for farming, and as the construction of the Miami and Erie Canal
Miami and Erie Canal
The Miami and Erie Canal was a canal that connected the Ohio River in Cincinnati, Ohio with Lake Erie in Toledo, Ohio. Construction on the canal began in 1825 and was completed in 1845. It consisted of 19 aqueducts, three guard locks, and 103 canal locks. Each lock measured by and they...
created significant demand for laborers, the economy of western Ohio grew rapidly. Most settlers in the region were German farmers, while significant numbers of the canal workers were Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
. By 1850, priests of the Society of the Precious Blood
Missionaries of the Precious Blood
The Missionaries of the Precious Blood form a community of priests and brothers within the Latin Church, one of the 23 sui iuris churches which make up the universal Catholic Church. The Society was founded by Saint Gaspar del Bufalo in 1815...
had become established in the village of Minster
Minster, Ohio
Minster is a village in Auglaize County, Ohio, United States. The population was 2,794 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Wapakoneta, Ohio Micropolitan Statistical Area...
, approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) west of McCartyville. From that place, they spread out to serve the Catholics of the surrounding region.
Located in northwestern Shelby County
Shelby County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,910 people, 17,636 households, and 13,085 families residing in the county. The population density was 117 people per square mile . There were 18,682 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile...
, approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) apart, the two heavily Catholic communities of St. Patrick
St. Patrick, Ohio
St. Patrick is an unincorporated community in southwestern Van Buren Township, Shelby County, Ohio, United States. It lies at the intersection of Hoying and Wright-Puthoff Roads, northwest of the city of Sidney, the county seat of Shelby County. Its elevation is 971 feet , and it is located...
and McCartyville
McCartyville, Ohio
McCartyville is an unincorporated community in Shelby County, Ohio, United States. Located at the junction of State Routes 29 and 119, it lies in southern Van Buren Township, south of central Kettlersville and approximately northwest of the city of Sidney, the county seat of Shelby County...
chose to coöperate in both civil and religious matters. In order to save resources, it was decided that individuals living near St. Patrick would go to McCartyville for their post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
, while McCartyville's settlers would travel to St. Patrick for worship. St. Patrick's Catholic Church
St. Patrick's Catholic Church (St. Patrick, Ohio)
St. Patrick's Catholic Church was a Roman Catholic church in northwestern Shelby County, Ohio, United States. Located in the southwestern corner of Van Buren Township, the church sat at the intersection of Hoying and Wright-Puthoff Roads in the unincorporated community of St. Patrick.-Parish...
was organized in 1862; it was originally served by priests from Minster, and from Fort Loramie
Fort Loramie, Ohio
Fort Loramie is a village in Shelby County, Ohio, United States, along Loramie Creek. The population was 3,045 at the 2010 census. The village was founded in 1837.-History:...
to the southwest. This arrangement endured until 1882; in this year, the McCartyville parishioners were separated into their own parish, which was dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Sacred Heart
The Sacred Heart is one of the most famous religious devotions to Jesus' physical heart as the representation of His divine love for Humanity....
. Twenty families formed the charter membership of the new church, which was the last parish to be created within the original boundaries of St. Augustine parish in Minster. Precious Blood priests continued to serve the parish until 1906; since that time, the parish has been served by diocesan priests.
Property
Three buildings are associated with the parish: the rectory, the church, and a former school. All three lie along the northern side of State Route 119Ohio State Route 119
State Route 119 is an east–west highway serving rural sections of west-central Ohio. It begins just west of Fort Recovery at the eastern terminus of Indiana State Road 26 and intersects with State Route 49 in the virtual center of Fort Recovery. A "TO Indiana 26" shield can be seen...
just east of its intersection with State Route 29. A cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
is also associated with the church.
Rectory
From the earliest years of Catholic settlement in the Black Swamp region, parish priests typically lived at the convent closest to their churches. Early in the twentieth century, all parishes in the Archdiocese of CincinnatiRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati covers the southwest region of the U.S. state of Ohio, including the greater Cincinnati and Dayton metropolitan areas. The Archbishop of Cincinnati is Most Rev...
were enjoined to construct rectories
Rectory
A rectory is the residence, or former residence, of a rector, most often a Christian cleric, but in some cases an academic rector or other person with that title...
for their priests. Many of these houses were simple two-story
Storey
A storey or story is any level part of a building that could be used by people...
rectangular brick structures with hipped roofs
Hip roof
A hip roof, or hipped roof, is a type of roof where all sides slope downwards to the walls, usually with a fairly gentle slope. Thus it is a house with no gables or other vertical sides to the roof. A square hip roof is shaped like a pyramid. Hip roofs on the houses could have two triangular side...
. The rectory at Sacred Heart church, which is similar to many other rectories in the region, lies immediately west of the church. Built in 1911, it is a square-shaped building with three bays
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
on each side that rests upon a foundation of cut stone
Ashlar
Ashlar is prepared stone work of any type of stone. Masonry using such stones laid in parallel courses is known as ashlar masonry, whereas masonry using irregularly shaped stones is known as rubble masonry. Ashlar blocks are rectangular cuboid blocks that are masonry sculpted to have square edges...
with a concrete water table
Water table (architecture)
A water table is a masonry architectural feature that consists of a projecting course that deflects water running down the face of a building away from lower courses or the foundation...
and a basement. Among its distinctive architectural features are a prominent cornice
Cornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
, large lug sills and lintels
Post and lintel
Post and lintel, or in contemporary usage Post and beam, is a simple construction method using a lintel, header, or architrave as the horizontal member over a building void supported at its ends by two vertical columns, pillars, or posts...
around the windows, and sidelight
Sidelight
A sidelight is a window, usually with a vertical emphasis, that flanks a door. Sidelights are narrow, usually stationary and found immediately adjacent doorways...
s on both sides of the main entrance. Dominating the facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
is a massive verandah
Verandah
A veranda or verandah is a roofed opened gallery or porch. It is also described as an open pillared gallery, generally roofed, built around a central structure...
-style porch with heavy brick pillars and a brick railing. The interior may be accessed through the recessed front door on the porch or through an exterior in-ground basement entrance.
Church
Located east of the rectory and west of the school, the recently constructed parish church is the largest building associated with Sacred Heart parish.School
Many Precious Blood-served parishes in the Black Swamp region founded small parish schoolsCatholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
for their children, because the Society and the settlers of the region placed great emphasis on Catholic education. Sacred Heart was one of these churches; its present school building was constructed in 1930. After only a few years of use, the school closed, and its building was sold to the state government
Government of Ohio
The government of the state of Ohio comprises three branches executive, legislative, and judicial. Its basic structure is set forth in the Ohio Constitution.-Executive Branch:...
for use as a public school.
Recent history
In 1977, the Sacred Heart rectory was recorded by the "Ohio Historic Inventory," a historic preservationHistoric preservation
Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
program of the Ohio Historical Society
Ohio Historical Society
The Ohio Historical Society is a non-profit organization incorporated in 1885 as The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society "to promote a knowledge of archaeology and history, especially in Ohio"...
. The inventory found no evidence of a preservation program for the house; however, it was seen as being in good condition without any threats to its historic integrity. Although it was assessed at that time as being ineligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, it was listed on the Register two years later because of its historically significant architecture. It was one of more than thirty different Catholic churches, rectories, and other buildings to be added together to the Register; they composed a multiple property submission of buildings in western Ohio connected to the Society of the Precious Blood. Many of the churches in the region feature tall steeples
Steeple (architecture)
A steeple, in architecture, is a tall tower on a building, often topped by a spire. Steeples are very common on Christian churches and cathedrals and the use of the term generally connotes a religious structure...
that can be seen from far away; as a result, the region has become known as the "Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches
Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches
The Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches is a rural region in the western part of the U.S. state of Ohio, centered near Maria Stein in Mercer County. Its name is derived from the dense concentration of large Catholic churches that dominate the area's architecture...
."
Unlike its sister parish in St. Patrick, Sacred Heart remains an active parish in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. It is clustered with Immaculate Conception parish
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church (Botkins, Ohio)
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Botkins, Ohio, United States. Erected in 1865, the parish owns a complex of buildings constructed in a wide range of years, including two that have been designated as historic sites....
in Botkins
Botkins, Ohio
Botkins is a village in Shelby County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,205 at the 2000 census. The village's welcome sign reads "Where the waters divide and the people unite."-Geography:Botkins is located at ....
and St. Lawrence parish in Rhine; all three churches are part of the Sidney Deanery
Deanery
A Deanery is an ecclesiastical entity in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. A deanery is either the jurisdiction or residence of a Dean.- Catholic usage :...
.