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 in Waukesha, Wisconsin. It was built in 1891 at 413 Wisconsin Avenue. This church was so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. Sadly, the original building was destroyed by a fire in 2005.
Contents
The Church's Early Days
The story of the First German Reformed Church 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 Erste Deutsche Reformite Kirche, which means First German Reformed Church.
By 1880, the church community had grown quite a lot. There were 190 members who took part in communion. They met in a large stone building. This building was first built in 1840 for the Prairieville Academy. The academy later became Carroll College.
Building a New Church
By 1890, the church building was too small for the growing number of people. So, the members decided to build a brand new church. They tore down the old building and built the new one in the same spot.
The new church was finished in 1891. It was a rectangular building, about 39 feet wide and 71 feet long. Its walls were made of wood frame covered in cream-colored bricks. The foundation was built from rough limestone blocks from Waukesha.
Church Design and Features
The church had tall, round-arched windows. Brick pilasters (flat columns) separated the walls into sections. A large rectangular tower stood at the front of the church. The main entrance was originally at the bottom of this tower.
The tower had three parts. The first part was brick. The second part was a wooden lantern. The top part was a fancy belfry and steeple, with a cross on top. The church's style mixed different looks from the Victorian era. It had tall, straight lines like Gothic Revival churches. It also had a rustic foundation and round arches, like Romanesque Revival buildings. The architect who designed this church is not known. The building cost $8,000 in 1891.
Inside, there were two rows of pews facing the altar at the back. The walls were smooth plaster, with wooden wainscoting (wood panels) at the bottom. The main area, called the nave, had a high ceiling supported by wooden beams.
Changes Over Time
For many years, all church services were held in German. This continued until around World War I. After that, services began to be held in both German and English. Over time, less and less German was used.
Growing and Expanding
The church continued to grow. In 1924 and 1925, a new section was added to the church. This annex, or chapel, was built to the east of the main church area. It helped make space for the 716 members. Hugo C. Haeuser, an architect from Milwaukee, designed this new part. He made it match the older building, but added a bit of Tudor Revival style. At the same time, Haeuser also oversaw updates inside the old church.
In the early 1900s, the church added a Wangerin-Weickhardt pipe organ. This made the music in services even more beautiful.
In the late 1940s, the church bought a new house for the pastor. The old parsonage (pastor's house) became a parish house for church activities. The old garage was turned into a youth cottage. By the 1950s, the church had over 1,000 members! In 1956, a modern brick building for education and a new entrance replaced the old parsonage.
Name Changes
The church's larger group of churches also changed over the years. In 1934, the First German's denomination joined with others. They became the Evangelical and Reformed Church. So, the church in Waukesha changed its name to First Evangelical and Reformed Church of Waukesha.
Then, in 1956, this larger group merged again. It became the United Church of Christ. Because of this, the Waukesha church changed its name one more time. It became the 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. This new building continues the church's long history in Waukesha.
See also
In Spanish: First German Reformed Church para niños
