Property Record
108 BRANCH ST / STATE HIGHWAY 83
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH |
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| Other Name: | FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH |
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| Reference Number: | 14563 |
| Location (Address): | 108 BRANCH ST / STATE HIGHWAY 83 |
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| County: | Washington |
| City: | Hartford |
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| Year Built: | 1853 |
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| Additions: | 1874 1898 |
| Survey Date: | 19782011 |
| Historic Use: | house of worship |
| Architectural Style: | Greek Revival |
| Structural System: | Balloon Frame |
| Wall Material: | Cream Brick |
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| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
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| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | RETURNED EAVES. 32X50FT. FRAME 1853 CHURCH ENCASED IN BRICK IN 1874. 2 TOWERS AND LARGE ADDITION ADDED in 1898. OCTAGONALCUPOLA W/ROUND ARCH WINDOWS W/ROMAN WINDOW TRACERY. ENTRANCE W/TRANSOM AND FLANKING PILASTERS. Believed to be the oldest operating church in the county. Twelve families in 1847 met in the house of R.S. Kneeland and organized the First Congregational Church. The congregation built a small frame church on this site in 1853. The congregation enclosed the structure with brick in 1874 and remodeled the church to its current appearance in 1898 by building the belltower, the entrance block and the north wing. The addition included a pastor’s study, library and kitchen. The carpentry for the 1898 work was completed by John Buckrues while the masonry was undertaken by William Witt. The parish continues to use the church. |
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| Bibliographic References: | ZIMMERMANN, RUSSELL "THE HERITAGE GUIDEBOOK" (HERITAGE BANKS 1976). Washington County History and Driving Tours presented by the Washington County Landmarks Commission, 1999. "History/Architecture Survey of STH 83", WisDOT #1330-24-00, Prepared by Heritage Research (2011). |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |