11th St. and 14th Ave.

Summary

First Methodist Church
1215 11th Street, Monroe, Green County
Architect: Edward Townsend Mix
Date of Construction: 1869-1887

This Church was built to house the first Methodist Episcopal congregation in Monroe, led by pastor Reverend De Lap. In 1843 they built a church on this parcel and by 1869 commenced construction on the current church building. The finely detailed building was not completed until 1887 for reasons that are not known today.

The present church is Monroe's finest example of the late Gothic Revival, a style favored for large-scale ecclesiastical architecture. Its steep roof, tall and narrow lancet or pointed-arch windows and elaborate masonry tracery windows are all hallmarks of the style. The most complex tracery is found in the tear shaped choir window, visible on the front of the church. Its detailed brickwork is a trademark of its architect, Edward Townsend Mix.

E. T. Mix, was at the height of his career when he designed the church. Born in Connecticut, Mix (1831-1890) had worked in the office of famed Boston architect Richard Upjohn. Mix arrived in Milwaukee in 1856 and rose to become one of the state's most noted architects, designing many of the city's important buildings of the period. Like many architects of his day he worked in a variety of styles, including the Italianate, High Victorian Gothic, Second Empire, and Richardsonian Romanesque. In addition to churches, Mix designed residences and office blocks.

The former church is now the Monroe Arts Center and is open during regular business hours.

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