Property Record
115 W MERRIMAC ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Plymouth Congregational Church |
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| Other Name: | Plymouth Congregational Church |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 50321 |
| Location (Address): | 115 W MERRIMAC ST |
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| County: | Iowa |
| City: | Dodgeville |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
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| Year Built: | 1907 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1984 |
| Historic Use: | church |
| Architectural Style: | Late Gothic Revival |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | Andrew Hendrickson-builder; Chandler and Park |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| National Register Listing Date: | |
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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, Division of Historic Preservation. THIS ONE-STORY, HIP-ROOFED, BRICK CHURCH IS DESIGNED IN THE NEOGOTHIC REVIVAL STYLE. LARGE, POINTED-ARCH OPENINGS, SOME OF WHICH FEATURE MOLDING, STAINED GLASS AND TRACERY, ARE PRESENT IN THE DESIGN. A CORNER ENTRANCE TOWER FURTHER DISTINGUISHES THE CHURCH. CONSTRUCTED IN 1907 (SEE BIB. REF. A), THIS BUILDING IS PRESENTLY IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: THE PLYMOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH WAS ORGANIZED IN 1897 FOLLOWING A SPLIT WITHIN THE PRIMITIVE METHODIST CONGREGATION, WHICH HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED IN 1849. BOTH OF THESE GROUPS THEN SHARED THE CHURCH BUILDING AT THE CORNER OF W. CHAPEL AND N. MAIN STREETS (NO LONGER STANDING) UNTIL A COURT RULING (1906) DECIDED THE OWNERSHIP QUESTION IN FAVOR OF THE PRIMITIVE METHODIST CONGREGATION. (SEE BIB. REF. A, B, C). FOLLOWING THIS DECISION, THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH MEMBERS IMMEDIATELY EMBARKED ON A CHURCH-BUILDING PROGRAM. DONATIONS OF MONEY, MATERIALS, AND LABOR WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN THE COMPLETION (1907) OF THE CHRUCH, WHICH WAS DESCRIBED AS A "HANDSOME STRUCTURE OF BRICK AND STONE... ONE OF THE FINEST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES IN THE STATE." (SEE BIB. REF. B). REVEREND FREDERICK SCHOENFELD WAS THE FIRST PASTOR (1904-1912) OF THE CONGREGATION, WHICH WAS ENLARGED BY THE ADDITION OF MEMBERS OF DODGEVILLE'S WELSH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH (ORGANIZED IN 1845, SEE RELIGION THEME IN FINAL REPORT) AND THE PLEASANT VALLEY CONGREGATION CHURCH (NORTHEAST OF DODGEVILLE). (SEE BIB. REF. A, B, C). |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. JOHN W. GRIFFITHS, JR., "A HISTORY OF DODGEVILLE CHURCHES AND RUAL CHURCHES THAT WERE IN RUAL DODGEVILLE AND STILL ARE CHURCHES OF SURROUNDING VILLAGES IN IOWA COUNTY," DODGEVILLE, 1984 (?). (TYPEWRITTEN). (AVAILABLE AT MEMORIAL PUBLIC LIBRARY, DODGEVILLE). B. GEORGE AND ROBERT CRAWFORD, EDS., MEMOIRS OF IOWA COUNTY, WISCONSIN, 2 VOLS. (CHICAGO: NORTHWESTERN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, 1913), 2:113-114. C. HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY, WISCONSIN (CHICAGO: WESTERN HISTORICAL CO., 1881), P. 762. D. WALKING TOUR OF HISTORIC DODGEVILLE, WISCONSIN, DODGEVILLE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION, 1995. The Improvement Bulletin 3/30/1907. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |