First Congregational Church (Lake Linden, Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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First Congregational Church
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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| Location | 53248 N Avenue (at 1st St.), Lake Linden, Michigan |
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| Built | 1886 |
| Architect | Holabird & Roche |
| Architectural style | Stick/Eastlake |
| Part of | Lake Linden Historic District (ID09000522) |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001863 |
| Added to NRHP | November 17, 1980 |
The First Congregational Church in Lake Linden, Michigan, is a special old building. You can find it at 53248 N Avenue, right on the corner of First Street. This church is part of the Linden Lake Historic District.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means it's an important historical site. The church is famous because it still looks almost exactly like it did when it was first built.
What Does the Church Look Like?
The First Congregational Church is a great example of Victorian stick architecture. This style uses lots of wooden boards and patterns. The church is a rectangular building with a pointed roof at the front. It also has a tall, square tower with a bell at the front.
The outside of the church has amazing wooden designs. It features shingles that look like fish scales or have flat edges. These are made of pine wood. They are separated into sections by wooden "stickwork." The areas above the entrance and on the tower sides have diagonal wood siding. Other parts of the church have cool herringbone and pinwheel shapes. These are framed with more stickwork and carved flower designs. The church also has an open front porch with decorative railings.
Inside the Church
Inside, you'll find the pastor's office, a kitchen, and a meeting hall. The meeting hall has wainscoted walls. This means the lower part of the walls is covered with wooden panels. It also has a hardwood ceiling and more detailed stickwork. The inside of the church has changed very little since it was built.
A special Garret House Pipe Organ is also inside. This organ was built in 1874. It was first used in another church in Calumet. People once thought it was the oldest tracker-style pipe organ in Michigan. However, there are actually older ones in the state.
The Church's Story
The First Congregational Church was started in 1882. A small group of Scottish people created it. Allen McIntyre led this group. Many important business people and workers from the local Calumet and Hecla Mining Company were part of it.
Soon, the group realized they needed their own church building. So, in 1886, they formed a building committee. The Calumet and Hecla Mining Company gave them land for the church. The committee hired architects Holabird and Roche to design the building. It cost $8,325 to build the church.
The church was officially opened in February 1887. Just three months later, a big fire swept through Lake Linden. Many buildings were destroyed. Luckily, the church was one of the few wooden buildings in the area that was not damaged.
The church was used by its congregation until the 1980s. By then, there were not enough members to keep the building going. The church was then given to the Houghton County Historical Society. This group has continued to use and take care of it. Today, it is known as the Houghton County Heritage Center. Since 1993, some restoration work has been done. This included repainting the church in its original colors.
