St. Augustine's Catholic Church
National Register of Historic Places

St. Augustine's Catholic Church

Napoleon, Henry County, Ohio
Listed
September 1, 1982
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
82003593

About this property

St. Augustine's Catholic Church is a historic church in Napoleon, Ohio, United States. Located on the edge of the city's downtown, two blocks away from the Henry County Courthouse, the church is a prominent landmark in Napoleon. St. Augustine Parish was founded at some point between 1856 and 1858; its first priest was Michael Pietz. The parish was dedicated to St. Augustine in honor of Augustine Pilliod, who supervised the construction of its first building. This structure was replaced with the current church, which was built at a cost of $21,893. Although construction was largely completed in 1881, the altars were not installed until 1888. St. Augustine's Church has been rated a fine example of Gothic Revival architecture: both its exterior and its interior feature many examples of the style. A high ceiling, supported by many Gothic arches, rises above the sanctuary and its elaborate wooden altar and pews. Stained glass windows on the front, rear, and sides of the church provide light to the interior. The building's exterior, topped with a steeple that rises 200 feet (61 m) above the ground, is built of brick trimmed with stone. The entire structure rests on a stone foundation; at the time of construction, small windows lit the basement, but these windows have since been closed with concrete blocks. Other small alterations have been made to the building over the years, including the replacement of the original front doors and wooden steps and the removal of crosses on the building's corners. Three buildings associated with the church are located nearby. A two-story brick rectory, bought by the parish in 1925, sits behind the church, while a Catholic school lies next door. Across Clinton Street from the church is located a convent of the Sisters of Notre Dame, a two-story Italianate building constructed in 1862. The tall brick Gothic tower of St. Augustine's Church places its architecture in stark contrast to another historic church on the edge of downtown Napoleon. First Presbyterian Church, located on Washington Street four blocks southwest of St. Augustine's, features an American Gothic exterior built of multicolored sandstone. In 1982, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural significance. It is one of four buildings in Henry County that are listed on the Register; the others are the county courthouse, the sheriff's house and jail, and First Presbyterian Church. It remains an active parish of the Diocese of Toledo and its Our Lady Queen of Peace Deanery. Aldrich, Lewis Cass. History of Henry and Fulton Counties, Ohio. N.p.: D. Mason, 1888.

Location

221 E. Clinton St. at corner of Monroe
Napoleon, Henry County, Ohio
41.39246, -84.12365

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about St. Augustine's Catholic Church

This page lists St. Augustine's Catholic Church. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your St. Augustine's Catholic Church report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Henry County Sheriff's Residence and Jail
Industrial
0.1 mi
Henry County Courthouse
Industrial
0.1 mi
First Presbyterian Church
Industrial
0.3 mi
Jones-Read-Touvelle House
Industrial
10.5 mi
Fulton County Courthouse
Industrial
10.6 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Fallen Timbers – Legion Advance August 20 1794
1794Early Republic
13.6 mi
Fallen Timbers – Confederation Flight to Fort Miamis August 20 1794
1794Early Republic
14.7 mi
Battle of Fallen Timbers — Rearguard Action
1794Early Republic
15.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was St. Augustine's Catholic Church listed on the National Register?

St. Augustine's Catholic Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 1, 1982.

What type of historic resource is St. Augustine's Catholic Church?

St. Augustine's Catholic Church is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for St. Augustine's Catholic Church?

The period of significance for St. Augustine's Catholic Church is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near St. Augustine's Catholic Church?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near St. Augustine's Catholic Church will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Henry County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Henry County.

Explore HenryCounty ›

More historic places in Ohio

Browse all historic places in Ohio.

View Ohiohistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Ohio history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Ohiohistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near St. Augustine's Catholic Church will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report