Boardman landmark to get marker

It was built as a church in the very early 1800s where Chili's Grill & amp; Bar now sits.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- St. James Meeting House, the cornerstone of Boardman Township Park since being moved there in 1972, gets its historical marker soon from the Ohio Bicentennial Commission and the Ohio Historical Society.
The marker will be dedicated May 28 at noon after a parade to honor all war veterans.
The building: The all-white, New England-style structure tells the story of a time when wooded, untouched space was common in the township's now heavily commercialized area. It has been the subject of many paintings and postcards.
The building's interior is stunning. The pews and walls are white. The woodwork and fixtures are original. Antique stained-glass windows are still in use, but a protective cover has been placed outside to protect them against vandals and the elements.
The building, easily visible from bustling U.S. Route 224, is now used for social events and weddings -- as many as three a day on weekends, park officials say.
Its history: But the building's history starts long before its early-1970s move to the park. It was built as a church in the very early 1800s, with the vision and assistance of the family of Elijah Boardman, founder of the township.
Consecrated in 1828, it first sat at Route 224 and Market Street on land donated by the Boardman family. The site now is occupied by Chili's Grill & amp; Bar in front of Southern Park Mall.
It was St. James Episcopal Church until 1971, when the congregation moved to a new church home and the land was sold for commercial development.
The St. James building nearly fell victim to progress, but Boardman Historical Society, under the leadership of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Masters and Mr. and Mrs. George Marks, started a drive to save the building.
According to Vindicator files, hopes of saving the building were all but lost in May 1971 when it was not known where the church would be relocated or even if the building was structurally sound enough to be moved.
Original plan: It was originally thought that the church would be moved to Pioneer Village at the Canfield Fairgrounds, but that was too costly. A retired church leader offered some of his property, but that deal fell through.
Officials wanted to move the building to the township park because of its proximity to the original site and the availability of space, but a lack of manpower and a clause in the deed prevented that.
The historical society and others stepped forward with money-raising efforts and attorneys to work out the legalities.
About $45,000 was raised and the rest is, well, history.
On register: In 1979, the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
It is believed to be the oldest church in what was the Western Reserve of the Northwest Territory.