First German Reformed Church

Constructed in 1850 as the First German Reformed Church along Freeman Avenue in Cincinnati, Ohio,(1) the house of worship was constructed with a front limestone exterior with a side and rear constructed of brick. The northeast corner features a steeple constructed with a limestone facade, and a bay of four large, stained glass windows on the southern and northern walls. A parsonage was constructed in the lot to the south of the church, fronting Findlay Street. The church served the West End, a German-American neighborhood, only blocks from downtown.

The church became known as the First Reformed Church in 1918, although it was forced to sell the property after the congregation dwindled as the neighborhood declined in 1970. A new congregation formed and the property became known as the Freeman Avenue United Church of Christ in 1970,(2) which lasted only five years before closing.(1) The property was then transferred to Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses, Inc. on November 18, 1993.

First German Reformed was slated for demolition until Over-the-Rhine Adopt was established and began matching property owners to prospective buyers. The church was marketed for a discount rate, with the condition that the new owners make necessary repairs to stabilize the building and pay all back taxes and fees. On January 20, 2011, Teddy Aitkins, Manny Hernandez and Skye White purchased the church and have begun making repairs to stabilize the property and get it back within city compliance. Windows and doors were secured, and roof repairs were started.

Gallery

Historical

Sources

  1. “German Evangelical & Lutheran Church Records.” Cincinnati & Hamilton County, Ohio Resources. 20 July 2009 Article.
  2. 2. First Reformed Church. “Church records, 1844-1977.” Genealogical Society of Utah (Salt Lake City) 1993. 22 July 2009. Microform.

14 Responses to “First German Reformed Church”

  1. Rusty Ferdon →
    October 26, 2010 at 4:59 am #

    Look for a call.

    Thanks Rusty

    910-5900 (513)

    E-mail

    miterbox1@netzero.com

    Reply
  2. Dale Hutchinson →
    January 5, 2011 at 6:37 pm #

    I have a Confirmation Certificate from this Church from 1862. I found in attic in my house in Fairfax. It's a shame this Church is gradually falling apart. Thanks for posting the pictures.

    Dale Hutchinson

    Reply
  3. Debbie Guentter McNe →
    January 23, 2011 at 7:15 am #

    My German ancesters were some of the original founders in 1850s. My family attended this church until the early 1950s. Very excited about the church's renewal!

    Reply
  4. R. J. Eschmeyer →
    January 30, 2011 at 4:05 pm #

    Does anyone know of any other early congregants? I just saw this church on Saturday. Unbelievable.

    Reply
  5. A.J Lowe →
    March 2, 2011 at 8:02 am #

    Hi,

    I have admired this church from afar and a friend told me the other day that someone has taken up renovations…That makes me very happy. I would love to have access for pictures. Would you happen to have contact info?

    Thanks,

    Amy

    Reply
  6. Alan →
    April 12, 2011 at 2:09 pm #

    Hi Everyone,

    I just passed by this today (April 2011) and saw that it looks like there was a fire in this still abandoned church. Can anyone confirm if the restoration project is still going forward? Sadly, it appears to be in a part of Cincinnati that is all but abandoned!

    Reply
  7. Linda →
    May 20, 2011 at 12:46 am #

    Does anyone know what happened to the birth, death and marriage records for this church?

    Reply
  8. John →
    February 7, 2012 at 10:44 pm #

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-BK_pw7l7Q

    Reply

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. First German Reformed Church « Abandoned - July 23, 2010

    [...] in 1850 as the First German Reformed Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, the church served the West End, a German-American neighborhood. The [...]
  2. First German Reformed Church | Abandoned - July 30, 2010

    [...] in 1850 as the First German Reformed Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, the church served the West End, a German-American neighborhood. The [...]
  3. First German Reformed Church | Abandoned - August 7, 2010

    [...] in 1850 as the First German Reformed Church along Freeman Avenue, the house of worship was constructed with a front limestone exterior with the [...]
  4. Weekend Excursions | Abandoned - December 1, 2010

    [...] weekend started off at the First German Reformed Church in Cincinnati. Constructed in 1850, the church features a front limestone exterior with four, large [...]
  5. Two churches, two similar stories | Abandoned - January 21, 2011

    [...] to the city center, in the crime-ridden West End, the First German Reformed Church faced a similar fate. Holes in the slate roof, some of which dated to when the property was active, [...]
  6. Endangered 2011: St. Mark Catholic Church | Abandoned - May 23, 2011

    [...] some cases, like the First German Reformed Church in the West End, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Sedamsville, or even St. Martin's [...]
  • RSS
  • Facebook
  • Twitter