155 Frost Parkway History
Church of Christ Building
The history of 155 Frost Parkway starts across the street with the original church that was washed away by the 1913 flood. The original building sat between Frost Parkway and the river, nearly opposite of 73 Frost Parkway. The information was collected from a book put together by Dawn Iannantuono and is available through the library’s digital collection.
As reported in the newspaper on October 3, 1912, “The framework for the new Church of Christ building is now about all up.”
1/2/1913 – The beautiful new house of worship of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, was opened for services for the first time Sunday. In celebration of the happy event an afternoon service was held in addition to the usual morning service. The interior of the church is elegant in its simplicity and well appointed arrangements, the wood finish being in white and mahogany. Floral decorations of poinsettias and potted ferns gave an added charm and beauty to the place at the Sunday services. The formal dedication of the church will take place at some time in the future.
On Easter Sunday, March 23, 1913, a deadly flood swept across most of Ohio. In Tiffin, the Sandusky River spilled from its banks and wreaked havoc from the north end to the south part of the city. By the time the Flood of 1913 ended, 19 residents had lost their lives and more than 500 people were homeless.
From Church to Women's Club
Contractor Dryfuse broke ground for the new church edifice of the First Church of Christ Scientist, this week. The building which will be located on Water Street, adjacent to the former Pennington residence will be a plain structure finished in stucco and modeled largely after the building which was swept away by the flood of last March. It will however be somewhat larger. The approximate cost of the ground and building, complete, will be between $7000 and $8000. Practically the entire amount was given the congregation from the relief fund raised by the Christian Science churches throughout the country. The contractor is to have the building ready by the first of the year.
10/15/1913 – The Christian Scientist cornerstone was placed in position this week in the basement wall of the new building on Water Street now in the course of construction. The services attending the ceremony were very brief. The stone is the same that was in the building swept away by the flood and recovered a considerable distance down the river.
11/27/1913 – The exterior of the new Church of Christ Scientist building on Water Street is rapidly approaching completion. The first coat of the stucco has been put on. The building will be a very pretty one.
1/1/1914 – Sunday morning the beautiful new church home of the Christian Science congregation of this city was opened for worship fur the first time. The services were very simple and unostentatious, but the spirit of thankfulness which hovered over the congregation which had the misfortune of having its former new building swept away in the flood last March, pervaded the entire assemblage. The new First Church of Christ Scientist, building is splendidly located on Water street. It is an artistic structure, one story in height. finished in mission style and with stucco exterior. The seating capacity is about 100 and the congregation.
6/23/1920 – Christian Schience Church Building to become Home of Recently Federated Women’s Clubs of This City. Tiffin Women’s Club Obtains Option and Will Incorporate to Purchase Property at $4500. The Christian Science church building on Water street will become the of the Tiffin Women’s club, recently organized.
2000s
Women’s Club Disbands
The Woman’s Club kept the building for approximately eighty years, then it was empty for several years until it was purchased by Dawn Iannantuono in 2000. Mrs. Iannantuono opened her business Draperies by Dawn after extensive renovations of the building. The building is once again undergoing renovations and will soon open as the Deli-Cafe at Frost Village as a New York-style deli featuring metro quality products.
May 29, 2000 -The Tiffin Women’s Club numbers dwindled in the late 1990s. When members and their husbands could no longer do the maintenance on the building, the ladies decided they could not afford extensive repairs. An auction was held for the contents of the building. At this auction, silver service, a grand piano, drop-leaf table, an 1850 plank-bottom chair, a Windsor chair, a Washington desk and a Tiffin Glass punch bowl were sold.
May 17, 2011 – The Tiffin Woman’s Club is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year (2011), as well as its final year as an organized group. Members decided to disband the club because membership has fallen to 12 active members and four associate members.
The building was sold to Andrew Kalnow for future development.
Dave and Amber Sprigdeon announced a New York-style deli offering fresh breakfast items, deli sandwiches, and more will open after renovations to the building are completed.
After renovations were completed, the new restaurant opened in early March 2023. Offering New York-style deli sandwiches on fresh made bread, sides and more, the Deli is a great addition to Frost Village. Visit the website for more information.
