STOP 4: 270 DIXIE HIGHWAY
Rossford United Methodist Church
Next, drive a short distance to 270 Dixie Highway.
You’ll see Rossford United Methodist Church on your right.
The church traces its roots to 1899, although the congregation moved twice before settling here.
And this church tells us something important about early Rossford.
Faith was at the heart of community life.
In fact, when Rossford was still a small village, it had six churches.
Think about that for a moment.
Six churches in a small community.
Just as the glass factory brought people from different parts of the world, those families brought their own traditions, languages and faiths with them.
Different congregations formed throughout Rossford.
There was Saint Mary Magdalene, serving the Polish community.
Saints Cyril and Methodius served Slovak families.
Saint Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church served Rossford’s Ukrainian community.
There was also Rossford First Baptist Church, Allen Chapel, and the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
These churches were much more than places of worship.
They were gathering places. They were support systems. And for many families, they were a little piece of home in a new country.
And if you visited Rossford in the summer or early fall, you would have experienced another important part of community life:
the festivals.
You might smell kielbasa, pierogi, stuffed cabbage and barbecue chicken.
You might hear polka music coming from the streets.
And you would see generations of families gathering together.
Rossford remains a community shaped by many cultures, traditions, and stories.
If you’d like to explore more of that history after completing the tour, you can visit several current and former churches.
Saint Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church is at 133 Walnut Street.
The former Saints Cyril and Methodius Church is at 124 Maple Street.
All Saints Catholic Church is at 628 Lime City Road. All Saints was formed when Saints Cyril and Methodius and Saint Mary Magdalene merged to become one parish.
Rossford First Baptist Church is at 167 Bergin Street.
And the former Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church is at 240 Osborne Street.
