A Little-Known Slice Of Cleveland History Can Be Found At This Local Church

In the 1770s or 1780s, one man by the name of Thomas Jefferson decided to let his interest in human behavior across cultures run wild. He excavated a burial mound near Monticello, effectively establishing the first known instance of American archaeological study (though he allowed bias to creep in and lead him toward false assumptions, but that’s a whole ‘nother can of worms). Believe it or not, Cleveland, Ohio, was once covered in burial mounds from the Whittlesey Culture, and while they’d be protected by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act today, they were destroyed early on for the sake of development. Today, the local Whittlesey Culture lives on in the form of artifacts they left elsewhere. One especially famous artifact is one we now know as the Independence Slab, and it’s located in a church in Independence, Ohio. The story this unusual artifact tells is fascinating… if only walls could talk!

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The congregation that practices here first gathered in 1837, but this stunning building wasn't constructed until 1855. At the time, the Greater Cleveland economy was heavily dependent on local quarrying, so it's no surprise that this gorgeous church was made from local stone.

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And the church was old when it came back into use. Yes, that's right... this gorgeous building was abandoned for a while. When local quarrying came to a halt, the original congregation disassembled. In 1925, another Presbyterian congregation claimed it, but their growth necessitated a new building. Fortunately, they had the foresight to preserve this historic site. The new building was established on adjacent land, leaving this historic church intact for special occasions.

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When the nomination form was received in 1976, its reviewers were treated to an overview of the building's intricacies. Hand-cut stones were mentioned, and its nominators called it a "fine example of early stone architecture in northern Ohio and very little is altered." However, it also calls out the church's most unusual feature: a petroglyph from the Whittlesey Culture.

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Petroglyphs are a rarity in Northeast Ohio, and this one's discovery tells us why. In the National Register nomination form, it's revealed that a large portion of the glyph was likely destroyed before anyone realized what it was. "It is fortunate and unusual that these early masons preserved the finding," the document notes. And it certainly was fortunate! In the era where burial mounds were being destroyed to make way for expansion, someone stopped and thought to preserve this incredible piece of ancient art. And how did they do it? By adding it to the design of the church!

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On page 13 of the old nomination form, a detailed image of the slab also reveals a winding serpent. Finds like this are rare in our area, and a 4-by-7-foot expanse makes this find especially memorable. It's huge, and it might have been even bigger before the quarry workers recognized and preserved its significance.

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Local workers quarried the stone for this church's construction. Local craftsmen brought it to life. Plus, one local tribe's art has been permanently preserved here! The designation was well-deserved for the church, and it's an unusual landmark that adds something quaint to the cityscape today.

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You can find the church at 6624 W Public Square, Independence, OH, 44131, but the Independence Slab is hidden from view behind a modern addition to the structure. If you're ever lucky enough to enter the building, be sure to see it! Otherwise, this unusual slice of history is best enjoyed through pictures.

Driving past a place like this old church in Independence, Ohio, you’d never imagine that a significant archaeological find is hiding within. However, the Independence Slab is a true testament to the forward-thinking quarry workers, architects, and churchgoers who came together to preserve it in a fascinating way.

Hoping to see another petroglyph in Northern Ohio? Inscription Rock on Kelleys Island is another point of interest you’ll want to know about.