Portland First Congregational Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Portland First Congregational Church
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First Congregational Church, 2011
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 421 E. Bridge St., Portland, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1853 |
| Built by | Baruch G. Cooley |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Demolished | 2015 |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000542 |
| Added to NRHP | December 27, 1984 |
The Portland First Congregational Church is a special old church in Portland, Michigan. You can find it at 421 E. Bridge Street. This church was first built in 1853. It had a cool style called Greek Revival. In 1984, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical building. Sadly, a big tornado destroyed it in 2015. But don't worry! It was rebuilt in 2016. The new church looks just like the old one.
Contents
History of the Church Building
Starting the Church Community
The Portland First Congregational Church group started in 1843. A person named Reverend LeMoyne S. Smith helped organize it. He was sent by the American Home Missionary Society. At first, the church members met in different places. They used a barn and even a log schoolhouse.
Building the First Church
Reverend Henry Root became the first full-time pastor in 1851. He worked hard to raise money for a permanent church building. In 1853, the church was finally built. Baruch G. Cooley, a church leader, helped supervise the building work. The first church was on Kent Street, close to the Grand River.
Moving and Growing
In 1868, some church members left. They started a new Presbyterian church. The two groups were separate for eight years. Then, in 1876, they decided to join together again.
In 1877, the church building was moved. It went from Kent Street to its current spot. After the move, the church got bigger. Workers redid the inside walls and floor. In 1879, they bought an organ for the church. A house for the pastor was built in 1887. All these projects cost a lot of money. The church struggled financially for many years.
New Members and Changes
After 1900, a nearby Universalist Church closed down. Many of its members joined the Congregational Church. This brought new life and energy to the church. In 1913-1914, they added a new section to the building.
The church had good times and tough times over the years. Support was low in the 1930s. But in the 1950s and 1978, the building had big updates.
Tornado and Rebuilding
In 2014, the church's bell tower was fixed up. But in June 2015, a powerful tornado hit Portland. It destroyed many buildings, including the First Congregational Church. The rest of the church was taken down a few days later.
However, rebuilding started right away. A new church was finished by early 2016. It looks very similar to the original building.
What the Church Looked Like
The first church, built in 1853, was a Greek Revival style building. It was a long rectangle, about 35 feet wide and 85 feet long. It had a low, sloped roof and a foundation made of sandstone. Later, a two-story section was added. This made the church look like an "L" shape.
A square bell tower stood above the front of the church. It was covered with narrow wooden boards. Fancy trim, called an entablature, went all around the church. It was supported by flat columns at the corners. The front of the church had a doorway that was not in the center. There were two windows near the door and two more on the second floor. The sides of the church had four large windows and one small window.
