National Park Service Lists Catherine Creek Community Center in Union, Union County, in the National Register of Historic Places

The Catherine Creek Community Center, historically known as the Methodist Episcopal Church of Union and the Union United Methodist Church, is among Oregon's latest entries in the National Register of Historic Places. Oregon's State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation (SACHP) recommended the nomination at its June 2025 meeting for the building's architectural significance as a distinctive, well-preserved example of turn-of-the-century church design in rural northeastern Oregon. The National Park Service, which maintains the National Register of Historic Places, accepted the nomination in late September 2025.

Located at 667 N Main Street in Union, the building that now houses the Catherine Creek Community Center was constructed in 1905 by the local Methodist Episcopal congregation. The two-and-one-half story brick building exemplifies a vernacular adaptation of the Late Gothic Revival style, distinguished by its cross-shaped plan, steeply pitched gabled rooflines, lancet stained-glass windows, and an elaborate corner belltower. Interior features including curved wood pews, wood wainscoting, a rounded chancel with turned balustrades, and tamboured wood rolling partitions contribute to the building's historic character. Its design may reflect influence from the published plans of Benjamin D. Price, a nationally recognized church architect whose work shaped religious architecture across the United States during this period. The building is notable within the regional context for its scale and decorative detailing, and it remains a visually prominent and architecturally significant resource within Union.

In 2021, the Friends of the Historic Union Community Hall acquired the property from the Oregon-Idaho Conference of the United Methodist Church and repurposed it as the Catherine Creek Community Center, ensuring its continued use and stewardship. The building's listing in the National Register of Historic Places affirms its architectural significance and enduring role in Union, situating it within a broader narrative of American church design in rural communities.

The National Register is maintained by the National Park Service under the authority of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Properties listed in the National Register are:

• Recognized as significant to the nation, state, or community;

• Considered in the planning of federal or federally-assisted projects;

• Eligible for federal tax benefits;

• Qualify for historic preservation grants when funds are available;

• Eligible for leniency in meeting certain building code requirements;

• Subject to local laws pertaining to the conservation and protection of historic resources.

State law in Oregon requires local governments to offer a minimal level of protection for properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places; the decisions about how to accomplish that goal reside with local governments, which also have the authority to create and regulate local historic districts and landmarks.

More information about the National Register and recent Oregon listings are online at oregonheritage.org (under the heading "Designate").