Property Record
315 S 5TH
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH |
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| Other Name: | FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH; UNITED PENTICOSTAL CHURCH |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 7102 |
| Location (Address): | 315 S 5TH |
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| County: | Jefferson |
| City: | Watertown |
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| Year Built: | 1927 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1986 |
| Historic Use: | church |
| Architectural Style: | Late Gothic Revival |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | |
| 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' titled "Memorial Park Historic District" 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-Public History. This church is the second and current home of the First Baptist Church. The First Baptist Church was the German Baptist Church which was located at 210-212 Division St. from 1874 to 1927 when this church was built. For a history of the German Baptist Chrch, see the record for 210-212 Division St. The significance of this church lies in its ties to the German ethnic community and its founding as a German Baptist Church. Its most significant location is its original location, 210-212 Division Street. Built in the English Tudor Gothic Revival style, this early 20th century church is characterized by a polychromatic exterior created by the contrast of the red brick, white masonry, stained glass and colored tiles. A simple steep gabled building with north-south transept and projecting stage square entrance tower topped by a short steeple, the First Baptist Church also features staged brick buttresses along the side elevations, the transept and on the corners of the tower. The red brick surfaces are ornamented with raised white brick Tudor arched window and door hoods with corbelled ends and with a band of whie brick arches inset in the brick work at the top of the tower. A triparte large Tudor arched stained glass window above the recessed Tudor arched entrance, stained glass Tudor arched side elevation windows and rectangular stained glass windows on the transept also ornament this 1920s church. One of three well preserved examples of Gothic styled church architecture designed in the early 20th century, the First Baptist Church exhibits a 20th century or late Gothic interpretation of the polychromatic exterior associated with the Victorian Gothic style and the pointed Tudor arched openings associated with the English Gothic style. The other well-preserved examples of early 20th century Gothic Revival churches are the Moravian Church at 510 Cole Street (49-22) and the Bethesda Chapel (59-33). Two examples exhibiting greater significance built in the 19th century are St. Paul's Episcopal at 413 So. Second (42-32) and St. Bernard's Church at 100 So. Church (54-2). |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Cornerstone. (B) Building inscription above the door. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |