House or landmark
Civil War
November 1864

Church of the Immaculate Conception (Father O'Reilly)

Father Thomas O'Reilly persuaded Maj. Gen. Henry W. Slocum to spare his church and its neighborhood, saving it, four other churches and the City Hall–Courthouse from the November fires.

See it on the map All Civil War records

The record

The 1851 frame church stood on this corner, and today's building was begun in 1869 and completed in 1873. The state marker credits O'Reilly's appeal with saving five churches and City Hall. Contemporary lists of buildings left standing include City Hall, the Gate City Hotel, the Masonic Hall, the Medical College and several downtown churches. Active church: no digging.