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Joe Bowden, of Bowden Construction, discusses the history of Trinity Episcopal Church, built in 1834 on South First Street in downtown Newark. It has served different purposes since then -- most recently Snider Muffler Shop. Park National Bank plans to use the property for office space. Additional floors have been added in the church and used as vehicle storage since the 1920s. Much of the original woodwork can be seen on the upper-most floor.

Few buildings could claim a wider variety of uses than the 174-year-old building at 22 S. First St., where Snider Muffler Shop operated until December.

It's been home to two churches, a parking garage, a muffler shop, army training center, possibly a car dealership, survived two fires -- and soon it will be converted into office space for a bank.

It might be Licking County's oldest church building still standing, constructed by Trinity Episcopal Church in 1834. Part of the bell tower, showing the construction date, the thick stone walls and ceiling beams inside the church are about all that can be seen of the old church building.

The building, although old, might not be worth saving or restoring, however.

"The building has been pretty compromised," Downes said. "It really has no historic value to it. It was not ever the intent of that purchase to restore that building, but that would be up to the LeFevre Foundation."