First German Reformed Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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First German Reformed Church
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | 413 Wisconsin Ave., Waukesha, Wisconsin |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1891 |
| Built by | Ward, George |
| Architect | Haeuser, Hugo C. |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 91001390 |
| Added to NRHP | September 13, 1991 |
The First German Reformed Church was a special old church building in Waukesha, Wisconsin. It was built way back in 1891. This church was so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. Sadly, the beautiful 1891 building was destroyed by a fire in 2005.
Contents
A Church for German Immigrants
The church's story began in 1866. A missionary named Professor H. Kurtz came from Germany. He helped German-speaking immigrants in Waukesha start their own church. They called it the Erste Deutsche Reformierte Kirche. This means "First German Reformed Church."
By 1880, the church community had grown quite a bit. About 190 people were attending services. They met in a large stone building. This building was originally built in 1840 for a school called Prairieville Academy. That school later became Carroll University.
By 1890, the church needed more space. The old building was too small for everyone. So, they decided to take it down. They planned to build a brand new church right on the same spot.
The 1891 Church Building
The new church building was finished in 1891. It was a rectangular shape, about 39 feet wide and 71 feet long. The walls were made of wood, covered with light-colored bricks. The bottom part of the church had a strong foundation of rough limestone blocks from Waukesha.
The walls had tall, rounded windows. Brick columns, called pilasters, separated these windows. At the front of the church, there was a large rectangular tower. The main entrance to the church was originally at the bottom of this tower.
The tower had three parts. The first part was brick. The second part was a wooden section called a lantern. The top part was a fancy belfry with a steeple and a cross on top. The church's style was a mix of different popular designs from the Victorian era. It had tall, straight lines like Gothic Revival churches. It also had rounded arches and a rustic foundation, like Romanesque Revival buildings. The architect who designed this church is not known. It cost $8,000 to build in 1891.
Inside the church, there were two rows of pews. These seats faced the altar at the back. The walls were smooth and plastered. The lower part of the walls had wooden wainscoting. The main area, called the nave, had a high ceiling supported by wooden beams.
For many years, all the church services were in German. Around the time of World War I, they started having services in both German and English. Over time, fewer and fewer people spoke German, so English became the main language.
Growing and Changing
The church continued to grow. In 1924 and 1925, they added a new section called an annex or chapel. This was built on the east side of the main church. It was designed by H.C. Haeuser of Milwaukee. He made sure it matched the old building. He also added a bit of Tudor Revival style, which was another popular design. At the same time, Haeuser also helped update the inside of the old church.
In the early 1900s, the church got a new pipe organ from the Wangerin Organ Company. In the late 1940s, the church bought a house nearby to be a new home for the pastor. The old pastor's house became a community building for the church.
By the 1950s, the church had over 1,000 members. In 1956, they built a new, modern brick building for classes and a new entrance. This new building replaced the old pastor's house.
The church's name changed a few times over the years. In 1934, its main church group joined with others. So, the First German Reformed Church became the First Evangelical and Reformed Church of Waukesha. Then, in 1956, that larger group joined with even more churches. The Waukesha church changed its name again to Evangelical and Reformed United Church of Christ.
The Fire and New Beginnings
In December 2005, a terrible fire destroyed the old 1891 church building. Not much was left after the fire. But the church community was strong. They decided to build a brand new church on the very same spot.
See also
In Spanish: First German Reformed Church para niños
