Property Record
E BROADWAY
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Praise Chapel |
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| Other Name: | Rock Springs Village Hall |
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| Reference Number: | 110805 |
| Location (Address): | E BROADWAY |
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| County: | Sauk |
| City: | Rock Springs |
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| Year Built: | 1925 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1998 |
| Historic Use: | church |
| Architectural Style: | Astylistic Utilitarian Building |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Concrete Block |
| 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: | This formed concrete block building was constructed as Praise Chapel in 1925. This was a tabernacle for local members of the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana). While the congregation was very small, Ableman was an important meeting area for Church of God members. Ableman was the site of the state camp meetings in the 1920s. In the 1930s the Ableman congregation affiliated with the Reedsburg congregation, leaving the building vacant. The building may have been built from plans supplied by the Church of God. The interior follows church design recommendations discussed in the church publication, the Gospel Trumpet. The rear elevation is left without any openings, to keep direct light out of the eyes of the congregation. In 1941, the village acquired the building for the Ableman Village Hall. It continues to serve this function, although the village is currently considering moving to other quarters (1999). When the building was converted to village use, the village jail was moved to its basement. Sometime in the 1940s the basement was opened up for a garage to house the local firetruck. The truck was housed at this location until 1950 when the new community center was built. When the basement was opened, the double front doors and central flight of steps were removed. The current central window marks the location of the doors; the fan light is original to the opening. Other changes include the removal of a small belfry (date unknown). Few interior changes have been made. The large meeting space and vestibule upstairs retain the original molding, doors and hardware. The windows in the main room are original to the building. Alterations include a second bathroom off the vestibule and a dropped accoustical ceiling. |
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| Bibliographic References: | Gospel Trumpet, 30 July 1925 Village Board minutes, 21 July 1941. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |