Property Record
18 5TH AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | SWISS REFORMED CHURCH |
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| Other Name: | SWISS UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST |
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| Reference Number: | 47952 |
| Location (Address): | 18 5TH AVE |
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| County: | Green |
| City: | New Glarus |
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| Year Built: | 1900 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19762015 |
| Historic Use: | church |
| Architectural Style: | Early Gothic Revival |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
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| 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 State Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation. Original cost of the building was $16,000. The church of the Swiss Reformed Congregation is a late Gothic structure, constructed of brick and accented by cut stone. Cruciform in plan, the church is also characterized by two front towers, one of which (at the southwest corner of the building) dominates the facade in volume and height. The Swiss Reformed Congregation (whose members follow the teachings of Ulrich Zwingli) was organized in New Glarus in 1849. A log church, a replica of which stands in the Swiss Historical Village, was built in the same year. In 1858 a stone structure was constructed, followed by the present church in 1900. Located on a hill in the center of the village, the church provided both a visual and spiritual focal point for the early Swiss settlers. Church services were originally conducted in both English and German and many of the hymnals and prayer books came from Switzerland. A building located directly west of the church furnished rooms for Sunday school classes, public meetings, and church offices. This building was replaced by the Zwingli House in 1923. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) New Glarus Post 6/21/1995. (B) Building. (C) "The Planting of the Swiss Colony at New Glarus Wisconsin." Luchsinger, 1892. Wis. Hist. Colls. (D) The History of the New Glarus Historical Society, Inc. 1976. Monroe Evening Times 6/26/2000. A Walking tour of Historic New Glarus, Wisconsin, ca. 1995. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |