The Old Church At Freeport
This old church building is located in a rural area of Ohio on US 22 in Freeport, Ohio. The town was laid out in 1810 and has had a working post office since 1814. In 2010 the population was less than 400.
I must have driven by that church 100 times before I took the time to stop and capture this image. I would pass by on the way to visit with family and was always too tired (on the way) or in too much of a hurry (on the way back) to stop. Going to visit family is a 14-21 hour trip so making good time on the road sometimes seems more important than taking photographs.
The time I drove by this church and stopped to photograph it the sign for the church was gone. If I remember correctly the sign stated that this was a Presbyterian Church built in the late 1700s or early 1800s. The building had deteriorated greatly and a fence and No Trespassing signs had been erected around the property. At that point I knew that if I didn’t stop during that trip that I was in danger of never seeing the church again.
This past May we drove by that church again. It wasn’t faring any better. Heavy equipment from the area’s recent fracking operations was parked unceremoniously in the yard to the side of the church.
It saddens me to see this extremely well built, architecturally interesting house of worship make it all the way into the 21st Century but in danger of not making it to the next.
This church and my history with driving by it is a reminder to take the time to stop and “smell the roses” or in my case stop and take the photograph.
Comments
There is also a log cabin in Holloway,Ohio. I am try to find out more on it. It doesn’t have a chimney and is boarded up. I also would like to k now more about this and hope that they fixed it up. I think it is on private property. I took pictures of it.
Although it can be expensive to renovate and maintain older buildings I love to see that happen, especially since yesterdays craftsmanship is superior to most of today’s.
Keep researching Jan!
I am in the process of finding that information. I just went past it. They have cut the grass and are putting a roof on it. I saw a bunch of Amish children in the grass so the Amish are using it as a school
I live in Shadyside Ohio but I travel to Berlin for good food and fabric as I am a quilter. I joined the Freeport Presbyterian church group and found out about it. There is a log cabin down the road I am interested in. I want to know more about it also and am in the process of finding out more about it.
How interesting Jan! The grass had not been cut in some time when we went by the last week of July and it didn’t look like it was in any better shape than a year ago. It makes my heart lighter knowing that someone is going to take care of that church. The Amish have a reputation for excellence and knowing that they are the ones that are now caring for the church makes it even sweeter.
*Thanks Jan for the info and please be sure and keep us updated!
I am captivated by it. I love old buildings. I wonder what history could be told. Also who owns it. And dog gone it why oh why hasn’t the Ohio Historical Society taken it and restore it. I would be willing to donate to it
I would love to see the inside. Jan Smith
I am on Facebook.
Jan,
I have some of the same questions that you do. I took photographs of other old churches on that same highway last month when I visited Ohio. There were several that were from the 1800s. Most are still in use although their congregations are shrinking which means money for maintenance is also shrinking.
I wonder if it would have been taken care of if it was in a city instead of out in the country.
The weeds were growing up around the Freeport church and what little plastic had been on some of the windows had weathered away. Each trip I make there I look to see if the church is still standing but half expecting it to be gone.
I love old buildings and I really wish someone would restore this church. It has so much character and charm that so many new buildings do not. Your story reminds me of a little one-room school house I used to drive by. I believe it was being used as a storage building on a farm (I could not actually get to the building – could only see it from the road). I contacted the local historic society and told them about it. They were interested in acquiring and moving the building. But, on my last trip by the building (years ago), it was still there. I hope it was saved.
Well, Melvin, the good thing is that it was still there and hadn’t been demolished. If the building is still standing there’s hope!
was just told that is was used a few years back as an Amish School house.
How interesting Jan! Now I’m curious if you live in that area or region and how you found that information. I’d like to know when the church was built and what denomination it was originally.