Property Record
350 S MADISON ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | GERMAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH |
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| Other Name: | BETHLEHEM UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST |
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| Reference Number: | 44937 |
| Location (Address): | 350 S MADISON ST |
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| County: | Grant |
| City: | Lancaster |
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| Unincorporated Community: | |
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| Year Built: | 1895 |
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| Additions: | 1924 |
| Survey Date: | 2009 |
| Historic Use: | church |
| Architectural Style: | Early Gothic Revival |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | A TURN OF THE CENTURY GOTHIC REVIVAL DESIGN FEATURING POINTED ARCH OPENINGS AND A CENTER STEEPLE AND SPIRE. CONSTRUCTED IN 1895, THE ONE STORY CHURCH HAS A RECTANGULAR PLAN CONFIGURATION AND A GABLE ROOF. (A). A ROUNDED MAIN ENTRANCE, A STONE FOUNDATION AND STONE ACCENTS FURTHER CHARACTERIZE THIS BUILDING. ITS CONDITION IS CONSIDERED TO BE EXCELLENT. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: THE GERMAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH IN LANCASTER WAS ORGANIZED IN 1877 BY REVEREND GEORGE HIRTZ OF MILWAUKEE WHO BECAME THE CONGREGATION'S FIRST MINISTER. PROMINENT BUSINESSMEN GEORGE MUESSE (BUILDER) AND LOUIS ALT (GROCER) SERVED AS SECRETARY AND TREASURER, RESPECTIVELY. (A) A YEAR AFTER ORGANIZING, THE CONGREGATION BUILT A FRAME CHURCH BUILDING (22 x 40 FT.) ON THE CORNER OF MADISON AND OAK STREETS, JUST SOUTH OF THE CITY'S BUSINESS DISTRICT. IN 1895, THE PRESENT BRICK CHURCH WAS ERECTED ON THE SAME SITE AT A COST OF $3,460. AT THE REAR OF THE CHURCH A LARGE ADDITION THAT WAS BUILT IN 1924 ONCE SERVED AS A PAROCHIAL SCHOOL WHICH AT ONE TIME HAD AN ENROLLMENT OF TWELVE TO TWENTY PUPILS. (A) |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. CASTELLO HOLFORD, THE HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY, WISCONSIN (LANCASTER: THE TELLER PRINT, 1900), P. 437. HOFFMAN, CARL. "HISTORY OF THE CITY OF LANCASTER." INCLUDED IN: RESOURCE COMMITTEE OF GRANT COUNTY. GRANT COUNTY HISTORY: 1900-1976. GRANT COUNTY:1976, P. 61. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |