First Baptist Church (Garden City, Minnesota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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First Baptist Church
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First Baptist Church viewed from the southwest
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 108 Franklin St., Garden City, Minnesota |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1868 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| MPS | Blue Earth County MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001938 |
| Added to NRHP | July 28, 1980 |
The First Baptist Church in Garden City, Minnesota, is a very old and important building. It's known for its unique history and how it was built. The church stands in a town that started in 1856 near the Watonwan River.
Contents
Building a Community Church
A group of Baptists first came together in Garden City in 1858. Eight years later, in 1866, they officially formed their church. This was an exciting time for the growing community.
A Disagreement and a New Plan
In 1867, the church members had a disagreement. Some wanted to work harder to spread their message. Others preferred to keep things as they were. Because of this, the group split into two.
One part of the group decided to go ahead and build a church. They planned to use logs from a nearby sawmill. However, winter arrived before the sawmill could take the logs. When spring came, the logs were washed away by floods. This meant they had to start their building plans all over again!
A Unique Way to Build
After the flood, the church members came up with a new idea. They decided to build their church using special concrete blocks. These blocks were made right in Garden City by a company called Geist and Hentzelman.
This church is thought to be the very first building in Minnesota made from concrete blocks or "artificial stone." It was a very new and modern way to build back then!
The church building was finished and opened on January 17, 1869. It measures about 33 feet wide and 55 feet long. The total cost to build this unique church was $4,100. After the building was ready, the two groups of church members reunited and used the building together.
Sharing the Space
For a while, other church groups also used the First Baptist Church building. Congregationalists and Presbyterians held their services there as a combined group. This shows how important the building was to the whole community.
A Recognized Historic Place
In 1980, the First Baptist Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of buildings, sites, and objects that are important in American history. Being on this list helps protect the church and recognize its value for future generations.
