Chapel Emmanuel Railroad Car facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Chapel Emmanuel Railroad Car
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The restored car in 2012
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 Location in South Dakota
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Madison, South Dakota |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1893 |
| Built by | Barney & Smith Car Co. |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001740 |
| Added to NRHP | September 8, 1976 |
The Chapel Emmanuel Railroad Car was a special train car. It was one of thirteen railroad cars used as chapels in the United States. These unique cars started traveling around 1890. Seven of them were built by the Barney and Smith Car Company in Dayton, Ohio. They traveled from town to town, mostly in the western states where there weren't many people. The American Baptist Publication Society managed these chapel cars.
The Chapel Emmanuel car was the second car built for the Baptists in 1893. It was used for the longest time, until about 1938. In the 1950s, it was sold to a company called Brandt Engineering Co. in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. They took out its metal parts and used it for storage. By 1976, the car was given to Prairie Village. This is a museum near Madison, South Dakota. The car was then added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
History of the Chapel Car
The Chapel Emmanuel car was being built during a tough financial time in 1893. This period was known as a "panic" because many businesses struggled. The company building the car, Barney and Smith, was having trouble staying in business. They had built an earlier chapel car, the Evangel, at a low cost. But for the Emmanuel, the price did not include things needed inside the car.
Building the Emmanuel Car
Many items for the Emmanuel were given as gifts. For example, the brakes came from the Westinghouse Air Brake Company. Other companies donated springs and wheels. Even things like silverware, blankets, and a cooking stove were donated. Different Baptist groups also helped. The car's furniture was a gift from women in Baptist churches in Oakland and San Francisco. The Emmanuel was ten feet longer than the Evangel. It was officially opened in Denver, Colorado, on May 24, 1893.
Missionaries and a Memorial
The Wheelers were the first missionaries to travel on the Evangel. They were also the first to travel with the Emmanuel. In 1895, the chapel car went into the shop for new paint and repairs. The Wheelers had to leave the car while the work was done. On their way home to Minnesota, the train they were on had an accident. Mr. Wheeler was sadly killed. To remember him, a beautiful stained glass window was made. It was placed in the door leading to the living area of the car.
The Car's Journey and Restoration
The Chapel Emmanuel car traveled in the Western and Northwestern states until 1938. After that, it stayed on a side track in South Fork, Colorado. In 1942, it was decided to move the old chapel car to a Baptist camp at Swan Lake, South Dakota. It stayed there for thirteen years before being sold for scrap metal. The old car was then used for storage by an engineering company.
While it was being used for storage, a carpenter from the Prairie Village park saw the car. He realized it could be fixed up and used again. The Emmanuel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. It was fully restored by 1982. Today, its permanent home is at Prairie Village, where visitors can see this special piece of history.
Images for kids
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The Hermistons, who rode in Emmanuel for 41,000 miles.
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A children's service aboard Emmanuel.
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Chapel car Emmanuel in Santa Barbara, California.
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Children after a service on the car.
See also
