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 is a very old and important church building in Garden City, Minnesota. This town is located along the Watonwan River. It was first started in 1856 and was called Fremont back then.
A group of Baptists began meeting in 1858. Eight years later, in 1866, they officially formed their church.
Contents
Building the Church
In 1867, the church members had a disagreement. Some wanted to share their faith more actively. Others preferred to keep things as they were. One group decided to go ahead and build a church.
Early Building Plans
They planned to use logs for their new church. These logs were supposed to go to a nearby sawmill. However, winter arrived before the sawmill could take them. When spring came, the logs were unfortunately washed away by floods.
A Unique Construction Material
After the first plan failed, the church decided on a new idea. They chose to build their church using 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. It was a new and exciting way to build at that time.
The church building was officially opened on January 17, 1869. After it was finished, the two groups of church members reunited. They all used the new building together. The church measures about 33 feet wide and 55 feet long. It cost $4,100 to build, which was a lot of money back then.
Sharing the Space
For a while, other church groups also used this building. Congregationalists and Presbyterians held their services there. They shared the space as a combined congregation.
Historic Recognition
The First Baptist Church is a special building. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means it is recognized as an important historical site in the United States.
