Property Record
5933 W National Ave
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | West Allis Presbyterian Church |
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| Other Name: | Mt. Calvary Pentecostal Church |
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| Reference Number: | 145418 |
| Location (Address): | 5933 W National Ave |
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| County: | Milwaukee |
| City: | West Allis |
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| Year Built: | 1923 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 20072020 |
| Historic Use: | house of worship |
| Architectural Style: | Craftsman |
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| Wall Material: | Brick |
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| 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 Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation. Faced with brick, this Craftsman-style church essentially rises two stories and largely exhibits a gabled roofline. The primary, West National Avenue facade, consists of a front-facing gable that carries two levels of stained-glass windows. Located at the immediate northwest corner is a double-door entrance topped with a gabled overhang that features large wooden brackets and a stucco finish. A similar second entrance is located to the east and shelters a single doorway. A gabled wing extends to the east and carries a large, pointed-arch window with stained glass and tracery along its east end; a tall brick chimney rises from the east wing. The only notable exterior alteration is the removal of the uppermost story to story-and-one-half of the original bell tower. West Allis Presbyterian Church was established on 14 December 1902 with fourteen charter members. Initial worship services were held in a frame building at the location of the former West Allis State Bank Building ( 6125 W. National Avenue). Shortly thereafter, a new church building was erected at S. 62nd Street & W. National Avenue; the lot of which was donated by Mr. & Mrs. Charles Cupples. In 1923, the church erected the current edifice and, between 1925 and 1927, the congregation more than doubled its membership. After twenty years of support from the Missions Board, the church had become self-supporting. In 1926, and under the fostering of the subject church, the Greenfield Avenue Presbyterian Church was founded for those members residing on the west side of West Allis. In 1988, West Allis Presbyterian merged with Apostle Presbyterian at 1509 S. 76th Street and moved to the latter's church location. The subject facility has since been home to St. Ann's Interdenominational Church and is currently home to the congregation of Mt. Calvary Pentecostal Church. The removal of a portion of the bell tower notwithstanding, the church is a very good and intact example of a Craftsman-style church, for which few examples exist. Indeed, within a city of a significant number of church edifices, this is the only Craftsman example. 2020: Resurveyed - appearance unchanged. |
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| Bibliographic References: | Burbach, Historical Review of West Allis (1927), 55; "West Allis Presbyterian Church," Churches, Miscellaneous A to Z Binder, Located at the WAHS. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |