Dennison in Tuscarawas County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Dennison Railway Chapel / The Manse
Dennison Railway Chapel
From its founding in 1865, Dennison was a railroad town and became the second largest rail center for the Pennsylvania Railroad. Rail presence was so strong that the industry dictated social and economic development throughout the community. For example, the Railway Chapel, the historic name for the First Presbyterian Church of Dennison was built because W.W. Card, Pennsylvania Railroad Superintendent, saw a spiritual need in the community. As the first church built in Dennison, Card contacted the Presbytery of Steubenville to start the church, arranged for donation of land, provided for financing from railway officials, and arranged for labor and material from the railroad. Railroad workers constructed the furnishing for the church with walnut pews built by the Dennison Car Shops. The pews have reversible backs, designed after ones in passenger cars. The church was dedicated in April 1871 and listed on the National Register of Historical Places in 2009.
The Manse
The Presbyterian Manse, the dwelling for the Railway Chapel's minister and family, was built at a cost of $5,000 in 1872, a year after the Chapel was completed. The ornate three-story, French Second Empire style brick home was situated on the east side of the Railway Chapel. Unique features include window hoods and sills carved from sandstone, with the entrance incorporating a transom and sidelights. The cornice contains ornate scrolled brackets between frieze panels. The mansard roof is enhanced with prominent segmental-arched dormers. Many delicate features inside the home befit the architectural significance of the house. The house, along with the Railway Chapel, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Erected 2009 by Dennison Presbyterian Church and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 21-79.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1871.
Location. 40° 23.595′ N, 81° 20.02′ W. Marker is in Dennison, Ohio, in Tuscarawas County. Marker is at the intersection of Grant Street and North 3rd Street, on the right when traveling west on Grant Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Dennison OH 44621, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Dennison High School (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dennison Yard and Shops / Dennison Depot (about 500 feet away); Uhrich's Mill 1806 / Clay Capital 1833-1980s (approx. 0.9 miles away); Uhrichsville (approx. one mile away); The Ohio & Erie Canal in Warwick Township (approx. 3.9 miles away); Gnadenhutten / The Gnadenhutten Massacre, "A Day of Shame" (approx. 6 miles away); Schoenbrunn Schoolhouse 1772 / Schoenbrunn Church 1772 (approx. 6.6 miles away); The Seven Ranges (approx. 6.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dennison.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 15, 2015, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 417 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on March 15, 2015, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.