First Presbyterian Church (Hastings, Minnesota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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First Presbyterian Church
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First Presbyterian Church from the east
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 602 Vermillion St., Hastings, Minnesota |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1876 |
| Architect | Charles Daniels, Harry Wild Jones |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 95000822 |
| Added to NRHP | July 7, 1995 |
The First Presbyterian Church, also called the First United Presbyterian Church, is a beautiful old church building in Hastings, Minnesota. You can find it at 602 Vermillion Street in the heart of downtown. This church is special because it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
It's famous for its amazing Romanesque architecture. This style makes the church look very strong and grand. You'll notice its huge size, very thick walls, and rounded arches over windows and doors. It also has large towers and fancy decorative patterns called arcading.
Building a Community Church
The church community started way back in 1855. A minister named Reverend Charles LeDuc helped create it. He was the brother of William LeDuc, who was also an important person in the area.
At first, the church built a stone building for their services. But as the community grew, they needed a bigger space. So, in 1875, they decided to build a brand new, larger church.
Designing the New Church
The new church was designed by a talented architect named Charles N. Daniels. Building such a big and detailed church took a lot of work and money. Because of some money problems, it took almost seven years to finish the building completely.
Even though it wasn't fully done, the church was ready enough to hold its first services in 1881. Imagine how excited the community must have been to finally worship in their new home!
Fire and Rebuilding
In 1907, something dramatic happened. The church's tall steeple was hit by lightning! This strike caused a big fire that badly damaged the inside of the church. It was a sad day for the community, as the church was left gutted.
To fix the damage, a new architect was hired. His name was Harry Wild Jones, and he was from Minneapolis. The church leaders asked him to make the restored church look as much like the original as possible. So, Harry Wild Jones designed both the new interior and exterior, making sure it kept its original grand style. Thanks to his work, the church was brought back to life!
See also
