| Additional Information: | THIS TWO AND A HALF STORY GOTHIC REVIVAL CHURCH BUILDING FEATURES A RECTANGULAR SHAPED PLAN CONFIGURATION, A STONE FOUNDATION, A LIMESTONE EXTERIOR, A STONE TRIM AND AN ASPHALT SHINGLED GABLE ROOF. THROUGHOUT THE STRUCTURE, POINTED ARCHS ADORN BOTH WINDOW AND DOOR OPENINGS. SOME OF THESE WINDOWS CONTAIN GOTHIC TRACERY AND STAINED GLASS, THE LATTER OF WHICH HAS REMARKABLY REMAINED INTACT OVER THE YEARS. THE MAIN ENTRANCE IS LOCATED WITHIN A GIANT, SLIGHTLY PROJECTING, CENTERED TOWER. NESTLED BETWEEN THIS TOWER ARE TWO SMALLER TOWERS. THE VARIATION OF DESIGN AND SIZE OF EACH FLANKING TOWER GIVES THE FACADE AN ASYMMETRICAL APPEARANCE. TALL, GRADUATED BUTTRESSES VISUALLY SUPPORT NOT ONLY EVERY EXPOSED CORNER OF EACH TOWER, BUT ALSO THE SIDES OF THE BUILDING.
CHICAGO ARCHITECTS COCHRANE AND GARNSEY WERE THE ARCHITECTS WHO DESIGNED THIS STRUCTURE, WHICH WAS BUILT FROM 1867 TO 1871. (SEE BIB. REF. A, 1, 2). A TIN ROOF WAS ADDED IN 1893. (SEE BIB. REF. 3). THE BUILDING IS IN GOOD CONDITION.
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, AS IT WAS KNOWN HISTORICALLY, WAS BUILT TO ACCOMODATE THE OLDEST PROTESTANT CONGREGATION IN WISCONSIN. ITS CONSTRUCTION COINCIDES WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF RELIGIOUS SERVICES IN MINERAL POINT. (SEE BIB. REF. E). SERVICES HAVE BEEN HELD IN THIS CHURCH FROM 1871 TO THE PRESENT DAY. (SEE BIB. REF. E, F). IT IS NOW KNOWN SIMPLY AS THE FIRST METHODIST CHURCH. |
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| Bibliographic References: | “Architecture/History Survey: Reconstruct USH 151: Dodgeville To Belmont.” WHS project number 92-0510IA/LT. October 1993. Prepared by Great Lakes Archaeological Research Center (GLARC).
A. TAX ROLLS FOR THE CITY OF MINERAL POINT. ON FILE AT THE AREA RESEARCH CENTER OF THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WISCONSIN-PLATTEVILLE, PLATTEVILLE, WI.
B. "MINERAL POINT GUIDE." MINERAL POINT: MINERAL POINT HISTORICAL SOCIETY, N.D.
C. FRANK HUMBERSTONE, JR. AND ANNE D, JENKIN, "THE HOMES OF MINREAL POINT." MINERAL POINT: FOUNTAIN PRESS, 1976.
D. C. W. BUTTERFIELD, "THE HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY, WISCONSIN." CHICAGO: WESTERN HISTORICAL COMPANY, 1881. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
E. GEORGE FIEDLER, "MINERAL POINT, A HISTORY." MADISON: STATE HISTORICAL SOCEITY OF WISCONSIN, 1973.
F. FIELD OBSERVATION BASED ON ARCHITECTURAL STYLE, BUILDING MATERIALS AND LOCAL HISTORY.
G. SANBORN-PERRIS FIRE INSURANCE MAPS FOR THE CITY OF MINERAL POINT. ON FILE IN THE ARCHIVES OF THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WISCONSIN, MADISON.
ARCHITECTURE
1. NATIONAL DEMOCRAT, 27 MAY 1868, 12 AUGUST 1868, 25 AUGUST 1869, 30 AUGUST 1871. CORNERSTONE: "LAID 1867."
2. BUILDING INSCRIPTION: "COCHRANE & GARNSEY."
3. IOWA COUNTY DEMOCRAT, 30 JUNE 1893.
Historic Mineral Point Architectural Walking Tour brochure, 2000.
H. From Mining to Farm Fields to Ethnic Communities: Buildings and Landscapes of Southwestern Wisconsin.
Ed. Anna Vemer Andrzejewski , Arnold R. Alanen and Sarah Fayen Scarlett for “Nature + City: Vernacular Buildings and Landscapes of the Upper Midwest,” 2012 Meeting of the Vernacular Architecture Forum (VAF) in Madison, Wisconsin.
I. Mineral Point Chamber/Main Street & The Mineral Point Historical Society, Historic Mineral Point Architectural Driving Tour, not dated.
J. Mineral Point Chamber/Main Street & The Mineral Point Historical Society, Historic Mineral Point Architectural Walking Tours, not dated. |
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