Zeba Indian United Methodist Church facts for kids
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Kewawenon Mission
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Zeba Indian United Methodist Church, Zeba, Michigan, 2020.
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 227 Front Street, Zeba, Michigan |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1888 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001847 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 10, 1980 |
The Zeba Indian United Methodist Church is a historic church located in Zeba, Michigan. It stands on the site of the old Kewawenon Mission, which was founded way back in 1832.
This mission was a very important place. It was where Methodism, a type of Christian faith, first began for Native Americans in the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It was even started 11 years before the more famous mission of Frederic Baraga at Assinins.
Because of its long history, the church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also a Michigan State Historic Site.
Contents
A Long and Important History
The story of this church begins in the early 1800s, when Methodist missionaries traveled to this part of Michigan.
The First Missionaries
One of the first missionaries was a Chippewa pastor named John Sunday. In 1832, he came to this spot and built a simple mission house out of logs. Two years later, in 1834, Reverend John Clark arrived and built a school and a better mission house.
Over the years, many other missionaries came to work at the Kewawenon Mission. By 1845, the mission had grown into a community with a farm and a church. It had over 60 members, and most of them were Native Americans.
Building a Community
The community continued to grow, and a second, larger church was built in 1850. Starting in 1880, the mission began holding big outdoor camp meetings every year. These events were very popular and attracted many Native Americans from all over the region.
In 1888, the community built a third church, which is the same building that stands today. It cost $1,400 to build, and the money was raised through donations. Later, in 1924, an outdoor chapel was also added.
The church has been active ever since it was first started in 1832. It is a special place that shows how Christian and Native American traditions can come together.
What the Church Looks Like
The Zeba Indian United Methodist Church was built in a style called Gothic Revival. This style was popular in the 1800s and often used pointed arches and tall towers, like a castle.
The church is made of wood and has a rectangular shape. The front of the church is interesting because it's not symmetrical. On one side, there are double windows with colored glass. On the other side is a square tower where the entrance doors are located.
Other cool features include:
- A small window in the peak of the roof.
- A triangle-shaped window above the doors.
- A large, circular window called a rosette window on the back wall.
- A tall, pointed steeple with a fancy iron decoration on top.
The outside of the church is covered with its original wooden shingles. These were handmade and arranged in neat patterns.
