Property Record
54 E 1ST ST (AKA 35 E 2ND ST)
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | St. Pieter's Evangelical Lutheran Kirche |
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| Other Name: | St. Peter's Lutheran Church |
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| Reference Number: | 51966 |
| Location (Address): | 54 E 1ST ST (AKA 35 E 2ND ST) |
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| County: | Fond du Lac |
| City: | Fond du Lac |
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| Year Built: | 1869 |
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| Additions: | 1909 1873 |
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| Historic Use: | house of worship |
| Architectural Style: | Early Gothic Revival |
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| Wall Material: | Cream Brick |
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| Demolished?: | No |
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| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| 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. Photo code #2: 74FD-32/10,11. This nineteenth century church is constructed of cream bricks in the Gothic Revival style. Features of the church include a large tower projecting from the church body. Above the tower is an octagonal belfry with gothic arched louvered openings. The tent roof is punctuated with four clocks that are decorated with round arches and finials. The tower and the walls of the church are decorated with stepped buttresses. Openings are gothic arched with stained glass. The front entrance is composed of double doors under a round arched transom. The entrance and openings are also decorated with brick arches. St. Peter's congregation was organized in 1858 and in 1860 they had a church in downtown Fond du Lac. In 1869, the congregation completed a new frame church at this location. The building was veneered in 1873. Just after a major remodeling effort in 1908, the church was extensively damaged by the fire the "night the churches burned." A new spire was built and the interior of the church rebuilt. The refurbished church was finished in 1909. May 2008 - The church and its accompanying school was moved to 1600 S. Main St. The buildings were purchased by Commonwealth Development Corp. who intends on turning the church into a corporate office. 2016- "St. Peter's Congregation was organized on August 15, 1858. In March of 1860, a church and property were purchased at the southeast corner of Marr and Second Streets; additional property on the corner of First and Marr Streets was purchased in early 186g. Construction of a new church was begun immediately, with the building dedicated on October 24, 1869. The cost of the new church building amounted to $4,969. Improvements added to the frame church in 1873 included brick veneer and the steeple, at a cost of $4,000-these had been left out in 1869 due to the high cost. Over the next ten years the oil lamps were replaced with gas and new pews were installed. In 1894, the Young People presented a gift of three church bells and the tower clock. Major remodeling began in 1908 which included ceiling work, electrification, and new windows. Three months later, the spire was burned down during the great fire; the interior was also ruined. A new, shorter spire was built and the interior was repaired and redecorated. The stainless steel cross was placed atop the spire in 1957. In 2007, the congregation voted to build at a new location and relocated." -"City of Fond du Lac - Memorandum", January 20, 2016, from Dyann Benson (Community Development Director). |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. City Directories for the City of Fond du Lac, on file at the Fond du Lac Public Library, Fond du La;c, Wisconsin. B. Sanborn-Perris Maps for the City of Fond du Lac, on file in the Archives of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin. C. Tax Rolls for the city of Fond du Lac, on file in the Area Research Center of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Library, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. D. Michael D. Lempinen and Les Ross, Intensive Survey Report, Fond du Lac: City of Fond du Lac and Sundberg, Carlson and Associates, Inc., 1989. Fond du Lac Reporter 10/2/2007. "Students move to new facility in the fall." Sharon Roznik, The Post-Crescent, May 30, 2008. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |