Property Record
302-304 N HAMILTON ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Bethel Norwegian Lutheran Church |
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| Other Name: | First Christian Church of Madison |
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| Reference Number: | 102167 |
| Location (Address): | 302-304 N HAMILTON ST |
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| County: | Dane |
| City: | Madison |
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| Year Built: | 1902 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19832012 |
| Historic Use: | church |
| Architectural Style: | Romanesque Revival |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | Gordon and Paunack architects |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
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| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. The Bethel Norwegian Lutheran Church was constructed in the Romanesque Revival style in 1902. It is rectangular in plan with a cut stone foundation, brick walls and an asphalt shingled gable roof. The front elevation faces south and is asymmetrical in plan with a swuarred bell tower at the west end, a wide projecting front gabled building mass at the center and a small set back entrance at the east end of the facade. At the base of the bell tower is a pair of double doors with a rounded transom above. Both entrances are accessed via concrete stoops with metal handrails. A large arched opening set with three narrow stained glass windows is located in the center of the front-gabled building mass. Resurveyed July 2012; diamond pattern shingles replaced with modern rectangular shingles. "Today, Bethel Lutheran Church occupies an entire block on Wisconsin Avenue. Its thousands of members constitute one of the largest Lutherans congregations in the U.S. Its present size, however, springs from more humble origins. The first of several Lutheran churches in Madison that served a primarily Norwegian congregation was the "Norwegian Lutheran Church," whose members constructed a modest frame building on this triangular Hamilton Street lot in 1862. This building constructed to serve its congregation for the next 40 years, during which period the membership continuously increased as thousands of new Norwegian immigrants came to Madison and Dane County. In 1897 the congregation changed its name to Bethel Lutheran Church. By 1902 the congregation had 370 members and boasted four affiliated societies. In 1902 the old church building was sold to St. Paul's African Methodist Church whose members moved it to 619 East Dayton Street (not extant). Bethel Lutheran then built this new brick Romanesque Revival church to the designs of local architects Gordon and Paunack. Bethel's members continued to worship here until 1941, when the Wisconsin Avenue church was built. The city's first ball, acquired in 1848, still hangs in the bell tower of the old Bethel Church." Old Market Place Neighborhood walking tour guide. Madison Landmarks Commission and Old Market Place Neighborhood Association, 1991. |
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| Bibliographic References: | “Architecture/History Survey: Reconstruct E. Johnson St.: N. Butler St. To N. Baldwin St.” WHS project number 13-0193/DA. 2013. Great Lakes Area Research Center (Gail Klein). Old Market Place Neighborhood walking tour guide. Madison Landmarks Commission and Old Market Place Neighborhood Association, 1991. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |