Property Record
624 BAY ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | ZION LUTHERAN CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH |
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| Other Name: | CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH |
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| Reference Number: | 3571 |
| Location (Address): | 624 BAY ST |
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| County: | Chippewa |
| City: | Chippewa Falls |
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| Year Built: | 1897 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19842021 |
| Historic Use: | church |
| Architectural Style: | Early Gothic Revival |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Stone - Unspecified |
| Architect: | CONOVER AND PORTER |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | Pointed arch windows with wooden tracery; rectangular entrance tower with bracketed eaves; flat roof and pointed arched door and windows; small north side entrance with gabled roof; stained glass flared facade; massive appearance. In a much simplified form with very little polychrome and based most often in the English Perpendicular Gothic mode typical of the late 19th century, the Christ Episcopal Church is built of substantial stone construction and in simplier though more forceful form than the earlier Gothic Revival Presbyterian Church (CH32-33). Designed in 1897 by the Madison architects Conover and Porter, the gabled Episcopal Church (D) exhibits simple cut stone surfaces penetrated by pointed arch windows and door with simple stone voussoirs. A squat square staged entrance tower and belfry, wooden tracery in the large front stained glass windows and stone mullians in the pointed arch north transept window are features of the restrained personal interpretation of the Gothic Revival style by the architect. Constructed by the Stanley Brothers at a cost of $13,000 after fire destroyed the preceding 1873 church (D), the historic Christ Episccopal Church is architecturally significant as an excellent example of the late Gothic Revival style. This church building was built in 1897 by the local firm of F.G. and C.A. Stanley Manufacturing Company (A)(B). The original Christ Episcopal Church built in the 1870s and known as Zion Luther, was destroyed by fire earlier the same year. The first church services were held in the present building in December, 1897 (B)(C). Feb. 2021: This Gothic Revival church was constructed in 1897 as the Zion Lutheran Christ Episcopal Church following a design by the Madison firm of Conover and Porter. It is L-shaped in plan with stone walls (flared at the foundation) and an asphalt-shingled, steeply-pitched gable roof. The front elevation faces northeast and is asymmetrical in plan with a squared tower at the north corner. A Gothic arched entry is located in the base of the tower and is accessed via a flight of concrete steps. The double doors at the entry are newer metal-framed glass doors with a stained glass transom in the pointed arch above. Above the entrance are two pointed-arch, louvered ventilation panels in the upper portion of the tower; the tower is capped by a low-pitched pyramidal roof with a wide cornice band below. A large pointed arch window with wooden tracery and stained glass is located in the front-gabled mass that comprises the remainder of the primary façade. Above this, a small, narrow pointed-arch window is located just below the gable peak. |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. The Chippewa Herald 12 July, 1897. B. Records of Christ Episcopal Church, microfilm (Chippewa Falls). C. The Daily Independent 12 March, 1897. D. Chippewa Wis. Herald 3 July 1897. EAU CLAIRE LEADER TELEGRAM 10/5/1996. CHIPPEWA FALLS HERALD TELEGRAM 10/3/1996. CORNELL AND LAKE HOLCOMBE COURIER 10/10/1996. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |