Property Record
130 S CHURCH ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH |
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| Other Name: | FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 10377 |
| Location (Address): | 130 S CHURCH ST |
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| County: | Walworth |
| City: | Whitewater |
| Township/Village: | |
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| Year Built: | 1882 |
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| Additions: | 1923 |
| Survey Date: | 2007 |
| Historic Use: | church |
| Architectural Style: | Romanesque Revival |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Cream Brick |
| Architect: | David R. Jones |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Main Street Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 12/21/1989 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 11/8/1989 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | ROUND ARCHED WINDOWS. ROSE WINDOW IN GABLE. Original church was founded by Prosper Cravath and 14 early residents in July of 1840. Services were held in homes until the first frame church was built on this site in July of 1843. Land was donated by Dr. Trippe. Cost for building the 26'x36'x10 church was $467. In 1850, a new church was finished at a cost of $4,300. The Congregational Society was a joint stock company and all stock holders property could be held for debts of building. Seven members of the congregation, however, assumed $2,770 of debt. This building was replaced by a brick church in 1871 at a cost of $18,000 but it was destroyed by fire in 1881. Starting in 1923, a chancel, parlor, dining hall, kitchen, gymnasium and school were added to the 1882 church. The gymnasium and classrooms cost $31,666. "In 1840, about 15 people decided to form the first church in the area under Rev. Daniel Smith. In 1843, the church was built on land bought from Dr. James Trippe. By 1850, and again in 1871, new and larger churches were constructed on the same site. A fire destroyed the building in 1881, and the present building was constructed in 1882 and 1923. The 85-foot steeple altop the church can be seen for some distance." Touring Historical Whitewater, n.d. |
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| Bibliographic References: | Congregational Church 125th Anniversary Bulletin 6/26/1965. Centennial Homecoming 1937, p. 27. 125th Anniversary June-July 1962, p. 45. http://wwcongregationalucc.org/documents/history%20of%20UCC.pdf Touring Historical Whitewater, n.d. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |