Bradford Community Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Boys and Girls Library
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | 5810 8th Ave., Kenosha, Wisconsin |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1907 |
| Architect | N. Max Dunning |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000144 |
| Added to NRHP | October 24, 1980 |
The Bradford Community Church in Kenosha, Wisconsin, is a very old and special building. It was built in 1907. It started as the Henry M. Simmons Memorial Church. Later, it became the Boys and Girls Library. What makes it extra special is that Kenosha's very first woman pastor led its creation.
A Look Back: The Church's Story
The Henry M. Simmons Memorial Church was built in 1907. It was for a pastor named Florence Buck. She was a very important person. Florence Buck became a minister in Chicago, Illinois. Then, she came to Kenosha in 1901. She was the first woman to lead a church in Kenosha. She even helped design the church building! Later, she became a leader for the American Unitarian Association. This group helps Unitarian churches across the country. The building was designed by N. Max Dunning. He was an architect who grew up in Kenosha.
In 1929, the city of Kenosha bought the church building. They turned it into something new. It became Wisconsin's first Boys and Girls Library! This library was made just for young people. It served kids in the community for 50 years. Imagine all the books read there!
In 1979, the city sold the building. For a while, it was used as different restaurants and bars. But its history was still important. On October 24, 1980, the building got a special honor. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect important old buildings in the United States.
In 1993, a local church group bought the building. It was the Kenosha Chapter of the Unitarian Universalist Church. They brought it back to being a church. They renamed it the Bradford Community Church. It was named after Mary D. Bradford. She was a leader in the first church group. She was also an important person in education. One of Kenosha's high schools is also named after her.
What the Building Looks Like
The church was built in a style called Gothic Revival. This style looks a bit like old castles or cathedrals. The building is made of light-colored stone called limestone. It sits on a strong stone base.
A cool part of the church is its square tower. It is on the front corner. The top of the tower has a special design. It looks like the top of a castle wall. The main entrance has two doors. They are under a pointed arch. This arch has fancy stone designs around it.
The main part of the building has a sloped roof. This is called a gable roof. The front of this part has a big, beautiful window. It is made of leaded glass. This means small pieces of glass are held together by lead strips. There was once a small room for an organ. This room is now used as the minister's office and a library.
