Property Record
1143 COLLEGE AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | PLYMOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH |
|---|---|
| Other Name: | |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 10798 |
| Location (Address): | 1143 COLLEGE AVE |
|---|---|
| County: | Racine |
| City: | Racine |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
| Direction: | |
| Section: | |
| Quarter Section: | |
| Quarter/Quarter Section: |
| Year Built: | 1912 |
|---|---|
| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1980 |
| Historic Use: | church |
| Architectural Style: | Neoclassical/Beaux Arts |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | CHANDLER AND PARK |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Southside Historic District |
|---|---|
| National Register Listing Date: | 10/18/1977 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 1/1/1989 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. Organized in 1904, this congregation retained the Racine architectural firm, Chandler and Park, to draw plans for this neoclassical church. Its entrance portico is flanked by a handsome pair of fluted Doric columns, and the octagonal main auditorium is crowned with an octagonal lantern which has a standing seam sheet metal dome. The dark brown tapestry brick walls are trimmed with cut Bedford stone and art-deco-oriented, milk glass windows. PEDIMENTED PORTICO W/ FLUTED DORIC COLUMNSPEDIMENTS ON SIDESOCTAGONAL CENTRAL SECTION W/ DOMED CUPOLA [Date Cnst:-1913] South Side Historic District Walking Tour Guide: "The Plymouth Congregational Church was organized as the Racine Welsh Congregational Church in December of 1847. Its first home was a wooden building on College Avenue south of Eighth Street. A second church was built at 813 Park Avenue; it was sold in 1913 when the present church was completed. James Gilbert Chandler (1856-1924) was one of the finest and most prolific architects who ever practiced in Racine. He was born in Berlin Falls, New Hampshire, but was educated in Minnesota and Wisconsin. He studied carpentry for three years as an apprentice and later trained as an architect with D.R. Jones of Madison from 1875 to 1878. He established his practice in Racine the following year. His most significant local buildings are the First YMCA (1886) at 314-320 Sixth and the Church of the Good Shepherd (1895) at 625 College (both in the Historic Sixth Street Business District), as well as the Shoop Building (1893, 1899, 1902) at 222 Main (in the Old Main Street Historic District). About 1897 he joined with Linus H. Park in a partnership that lasted until about 1919. During those years, Chandler became a specialist in designing schools, which were built in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, and Iowa. Among those he designed in Racine are Janes (1896) at 1425 North Wisconsin and Winslow (1897) at 1325 College." Racine contractors who contributed to the building were: Mohr-Jones Hardware Co. (ironwork and slate), A. Jacobson (masonry), and Fred Hansen (carpentry). |
|---|---|
| Bibliographic References: | Racine Journal Times 9/23/1999. 100th Anniversary 1848-1948 Plymouth Congregational Church. Preservation Racine, Inc., Newsletter: Summer 2012. Southside Historic District Walking Tour Guide. The Racine Landmarks Preservation Commission, May 1993. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |