Property Record
216 S MONROE ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH |
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| Other Name: | LANCASTER UNITED METHODIST CHURCH |
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| Reference Number: | 45388 |
| Location (Address): | 216 S MONROE ST |
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| County: | Grant |
| City: | Lancaster |
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| Year Built: | 1877 |
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| Additions: | 1891 2007 |
| Survey Date: | 2009 |
| Historic Use: | church |
| Architectural Style: | Early Gothic Revival |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | /HENRY MUESSE |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| National Register Listing Date: | |
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| Additional Information: | A SIMPLIFIED GOTHIC REVIVAL CHRUCH IDENTIFIED BY A CENTER STEEPLE WITH SPIRE, POINTED ARCH OPENINGS AND BRICKWORK TRIM. THIS 1877, ONE STORY CHURCH HAS A RECTANGULAR PLAN, A GABLE ROOF, A CUT STONE FOUNDATION AND A BRICK EXTERIOR. (A). IN 1891 THERE WAS AN ADDITION MADE TO THE STRUCTURE, AND IN 1914 THE INTERIOR WAS REDECORATED. (A). THE BUILDING IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: ACCORDING TO HOLFORD, "PROBABLY THE FIRST RELIGIOUS SERVICES HELD IN THIS COMMUNITY WERE BY ITENERANT METHODIST PREACHERS." (B). THE SCHOOL HOUSE AND COURTHOUSE WERE USED BY THESE TRAVELING MINISTERS UNTIL 1851 WHEN A FRAME BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED ON THE CORNER OF MAPLE AND ADAMS STREETS (NO LONGER STANDING). IN 1875, STEPS WERE TAKEN TO ERECT A NEW AND LARGER CHURCH BUILDING. HENRY MUESSE, A LOCAL BUILDER, WAS SELECTED TO CONSTRUCT THE CHURCH WHICH WAS COMPLETED IN 1877. ALTHOUGH A CHURCH IS USUALLY DEDICATED SOON AFTER CONSTRUCTION, THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CONGREGATION DELAYED THIS CEREMONY UNTIL THE BUILDING WAS FREE OF "EVERY CENT OF LIABILITIES." (A) A SOCIAL ROOM (AT THE EAST END OF THE BUILDING) WAS ADDED IN 1891 AND NAMED THE "CHAPEL OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHRUCH OF LANCASTER." IN THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY (1914), A PIPE ORGAN WAS INSTALLED AND THE INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH REDECORATED. WHILE THESE CHANGES WERE BEING MADE, THE CONGREGATION HELD SERVICES IN THE OPERA HOUSE, 219 WEST MAPLE STREET, 8/5. (A). A LATER TWENTIETH CENTURY ADDITION IS VISIBLE ON THE SOUTH AND A VERY LARGE EDUCATION WING WAS ADDED TO THE CHURCH IN 2007. |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. GUY W. CAMPBELL, "THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHRUCH OF LANCASTER, WISCONSIN." 8 MAY 1924, MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION. STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WISCONSIN. B. CASTELLO HOLFORD, HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY, WISCONSIN (LANCASTER: THE TELLER PRINT, 1900), P. 430. DATESTONE (2007) GRANT COUNTY HERALD: June 4, 1891, p. 5; DEC. 17, 1891, P. 10. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |