Mantua, in the north central region of Portage County, was laid out in the 1840s as Mantua Station, a stop on the Cleveland and Mahoning Valley Railroad. As more people moved there, Cleveland Bishop Amadeus Rappe established St. Joseph in 1864 as a mission of Cleveland Holy Name Parish. Over time, priests from Niles and Warren served the mission with Masses celebrated in parishioners’ homes. A frame church was built in 1871 with many of the funds collected from railroad workers. St. Joseph was officially established as a parish in 1923 and soon built its first brick church for a congregation of 35 to 40 families.
St. Joseph saw growth and a succession of pastors—with a rectory built in the 1930s. During the 1950s, St. Joseph purchased property, anticipating further growth. In 1960, a $1,500,000 church/school/auditorium was built. The parish’s annual Ox Roast Fair was instituted to help pay for the construction. The previous school held classes in the basement of the old church. The Dominican Sisters of Akron were enlisted to serve as teachers.
As various pastors served there, the parish continued to grow with almost 600 families when St. Joseph celebrated its 50th year as a parish in 1973, and 700 families for its 60th in 1983. In honor of the parish’s 75th anniversary in 1998, a time capsule was buried, a carillon installed, and the church interior painted. During the early 2000s, a new lighted sign and a St. Joseph statue were installed on the grounds.
St. Joseph School closed in 2010, but the parish developed a youth group and a school of religion. The parish also joined with area churches to serve a monthly meal in the parish hall for the needy in the community and for the elderly and shut- ins of St. Joseph. Today, St. Joseph Parish is part of the “Portage North” collaborative unit. Its Ox Roast Fair continues to be one of the largest summer festivals in the region, and it also offers dozens of groups and ministries for parishioners to become stronger in their faith and in friendship. Dedicated to the earthly father of Jesus, Saint Joseph, the parish recognizes the power of his ability to intercede in matters of employment as well as his dedication to Christ.
Description from The March of the Eucharist, 2nd edition (2025) published by The Catholic Echo
