Property Record
210 S IOWA ST
Architecture and History Inventory
Historic Name: | FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF DODGEVILLE |
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Other Name: | AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCH |
Contributing: | |
Reference Number: | 49960 |
Location (Address): | 210 S IOWA ST |
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County: | Iowa |
City: | Dodgeville |
Township/Village: | |
Unincorporated Community: | |
Town: | |
Range: | |
Direction: | |
Section: | |
Quarter Section: | |
Quarter/Quarter Section: |
Year Built: | 1896 |
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Additions: | |
Survey Date: | 1984 |
Historic Use: | church |
Architectural Style: | Early Gothic Revival |
Structural System: | |
Wall Material: | Aluminum/Vinyl Siding |
Architect: | |
Other Buildings On Site: | |
Demolished?: | No |
Demolished Date: |
National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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National Register Listing Date: | |
State Register Listing Date: |
Additional Information: | THIS ONE-STORY CHURCH FEATURES AN IRREGULAR PLAN CONFIGURAION, AN ALUMINUM/VINYL SIDED EXTERIOR AND A GABLE ROOF. THE ASYMMETRICAL DESIGN IS CHARACTERIZED BY TWO GABLED WINGS WRAPPED AROUND A RECTANGULAR STEEPLE. THIS TOWER, WHICH IS CAPPED WITH A "WITCH'S HAT" ROOF, IS A DOMINANT ELEMENT. POINTED ARCH WINDOWS APPEAR AT SEVERAL PLACES ON THE FACADE AND A HOOD IS LOCATED OVER THE MAIN ENTRANCE. THE BRICK FOUNDATION IS VISIBLE BENEATH THE ALUMINUM SIDING. THIS CHURCH, BUILT IN 1896 WITH A BASEMENT ADDED IN 1917, IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. (SEE BIB. REF. A). HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: ON DECMEBER 1, 1854, THE "FIRST REGULAR WELSH BAPTIST CHURCH" WAS ORGANIZED IN DODGEVILLE. THIS CHRUCH BUILDING WAS COMPLETED IN 1896 AND FROM THAT TIME THE CONGREGATION WAS KNOWN AS THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES CONCLUDED A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE RECORDING THE CHURCH'S CENTENNIAL: "THE BAPTIST WITNESS HAS HAD A HARD STRUGGLE IN THIS AREA DUE TO THE INHERENT TENDENCY TOWARD LITURGY AND ECCLESIASTICAL AUTHORITY. IN 1895 THERE WAS A BAPTIST CHURCH IN BARNEVELD, RIDGEWAY, MT. HOPE, AND JENNITON, BUT THE BAPTIST CHURCH IN DODGEVILLE IS THE ONLY VOICE FOR BAPTIST LIBERTY AND FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE IN IOWA COUNTY TODAY." (SEE BIB. REF. A). AN HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPH OF THE CHURCH IS AVAILABLE AT THE ICONOGRAPHY DIVISION OF THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. |
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Bibliographic References: | A. DODGEVILLE CHRONICLE, 2 SEPTEMBER 1954. B. WALKING TOUR OF HISTORIC DODGEVILLE, WISCONSIN, DODGEVILLE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION, 1995. |
Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |