HISTORICAL LOOKING GLASS

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

The original Elyria First Baptist Church was a Greek Revival style structure built on the
southeast corner of Middle Avenue (known as Cheapside) and Second Street in 1838-39,
on land donated by Elyria’s founder, Heman Ely, Sr. In 1883, this church was replaced by
the second Baptist Church, a large building designed in the Gothic style of architecture,
shown here. To the right of this church stood the six-story Elyria Masonic Temple, built
1905-06, but destroyed by fire in 1956. This is now the site of the Lorain County
Administration Building.

In 1950, the Baptist congregation moved to Washington Avenue and sold this building to
the Northern Savings & Loan Company, which demolished the church and built a bank on
this land by 1953. Northern Savings & Loan underwent a series of name changes until it
closed for good in 2021, after purchase by Huntington Bank.
SPONSOR

This project would not have been possible without the generous support and collaboration of several key partners.

Special Thanks To:

  • The Lorain County Historical Society for partnering with us and providing the powerful historical imagery that brings this story to life. Learn more about their work at lchs.org.

  • Steven Rice, whose thoughtful curation and guidance helped shape the installation’s narrative.

  • The dedicated members of the Elyria Community Partnership Board, who continue to support projects that preserve and celebrate our city’s heritage.

  • The City of Elyria Administration, whose partnership ensures our downtown continues to evolve with care and respect for its history.

  • And a special thank you to the America 250-Ohio Commission, for partially funding this project and helping make it a reality

This installation invites viewers to pause, reflect, and imagine Elyria through a historical lens—connecting our past to our future.

📍 Stop by the First Baptist site, located at the corner of Second Street and Middle Avenue inside Ely Square, and experience the story for yourself.