Historic Name

First Universalist Church

Address

107 Myrtle Street

Municipality

Girard Borough

Tax Parcel

23015050003200

Historic District

Classification

Class 1 (Definitions of Classes)

State Key Number

15854

Historic Function

Religion - religious structure

Style

Greek Revival

Built

1852

Architect

Builder

Barn Type on property

Last Entry Update

6/28/2016

Girard’s First Universalist Church was originally erected in 1852, though the Universalist Church had officially come together as an organization in 1848. In 1907, the church came together and unanimously decided as a community to enlarge the existing structure and modernize the sanctuary. Besides these facts, not much is advertised about the Church’s long and complex history. Simply reading their website, a reader would not understand the remarkable story this building has to tell about the Civil War and the Underground Railroad’s presence in Pennsylvania (specifically Erie County).

During the Civil War, Reverend Charles L. Shipman, both a pastor and an avid abolitionist, helped to organize an Underground Railroad route that stretched from the Ohio River up to Lake Erie. He often spoke publicly about his moral disagreements with the institution of slavery and preached abolitionist ideals to his congregation. There was a specific vein of the Railroad that spread west from Meadville toward Linesville, before making a sharp right and heading up toward Girard and Erie County. Once escapees reached Girard, they were officially under his protection from the law, and he did everything in his power to make sure they were not caught and returned. Shipman was the unofficial “superintendent” of the Western Pennsylvanian Underground Railroad, and helped innumerable slaves escape to freedom. The physical location of Girard made it a strategic stop on the Underground Railroad because of the long expanses both east and west on the Lake Erie shore. This would allow escapees to go either way, though many would have opted to travel west because of the close proximity of the Ohio border.

The First Universalist Church and Reverend Charles L. Shipman played a fundamental role in aiding the escape of fugitive slaves and standing for abolitionist beliefs during the chaotic controversy of the American Civil War. His heroism and strength of character mark this church as an important historic building that serves as a reminder and a beacon hope for the community of Girard, and will continue to stand as a symbol for freedom as long as it stands.

Sources: Erie County Historical and Architectural Preservation Plan, Erie Metropolitan Planning Department, June 1976; Gensheimer, Lisa. "Time Travel on the Underground Railroad." Erie Times News, 2013

If you have additional information or corrections to the existing information, send an email to info@preservationerie.org.
Submitted information is reviewed by Preservation Erie prior to updating the database.

Photo courtesy, Erie County Assessment Office