Ohio Historical Marker Unveiled

Washington Avenue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), in conjunction with the Elyria Historical Association and the Ohio History Connection, unveiled Lorain County’s 35^th Ohio Historical Marker on the church’s front lawn on Thursday, September 3. Remarks were presented by the Honorable Frank Whitfield, Mayor of the City of Elyria, Mr. Bill Bird, President of the Elyria Historical Association, Ms. Kerri Broome, Executive Director of the Lorain County Historical Society, and the Rev. Nathan A. Russell, Senior Pastor.

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Nearly 50 people were in attendance to view the unveiling of the marker commemorating William Graves Sharp, former United States Ambassador to France during World War I and three-term congressional representative. Sharp is one of two Elyrians to have served in Congress and also one of two Lorain Countians to have served as Ambassador to France during the early 20^th century.

In 1945, the church purchased Sharp’s home and made plans to relocate its 2^nd Street campus to Washington Avenue. Though the exterior of the home was incorporated into the newly built sanctuary, many of the mansion’s interior architectural details–including marble fireplaces, decorative ceiling mouldings, plaster reliefs on the parlor walls, and a beautiful grand staircase–remain.

The Elyria Historical Association had the imagination for the marker and provided the bulk of the historical research for the project. At the Association’s invitation, the church partnered with them in the marker application process and fundraising.