Coralville Union Ecclesiastical Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Coralville Union Ecclesiastical Church
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 405 2nd Ave. Coralville, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1885 |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000526 |
| Added to NRHP | April 11, 1977 |
The Coralville Union Ecclesiastical Church, also known as the Coralville Town Hall, is a special old building in Coralville, Iowa, United States. It has a long history and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. This means it's an important building worth protecting because of its past.
Contents
A Look Back: The Building's History
Early Days: A Church and Town Hall
Before this building, Coralville had a different church, built by a group called the Methodists. Sadly, that first church was destroyed in a fire around 1880. After the fire, people in Coralville decided to build a new place. They formed a group called the Coralville Union Ecclesiastical Society. Their goal was to create a building that many different churches could use.
The new building, made of brick with a sloped roof, was finished around 1885. It was designed to be very useful. The main floor was a church for various Christian groups. The lower level served as the town hall, where local government business happened. This lower level could also be used for community events, though dancing was not allowed there.
Changes Over Time: From Church to Museum
In 1921, the town of Coralville bought the building for $2,500. After that, it was used for many different things. It served as a school for a while, helping to educate the town's children. It was also a meeting place for another church group, the Evangelical Free Church. For many years, it continued to be the town's main administrative center. In 1953, the building was updated to better serve as the town hall.
Later, after it was no longer used as the town hall, the building was turned into a museum. This helped to preserve its history and share it with visitors.
Moving Day: Preserving a Landmark
By 2014, the old building was in the way of new construction and development in Coralville. To save this important piece of history, the city decided to move it! The building was carefully moved from its original spot on Second Avenue to Fifth Street.
Today, the Coralville Union Ecclesiastical Church sits across the street from another historic building, the Coralville Public School, which was built in 1876. Both of these old buildings now stand at the entrance to a new area called Old Town, which combines homes, shops, and other businesses.
