| Additional Information: | 2018 survey report write-up: This church property is comprised of a modestly Tudor Revival-influenced Guild Hall (1950) and a 1960s Contemporary Style church. The Guild Hall rises three full stories and a series of four gabled dormers rise from the red-tile roof. Each dormer includes a window with diamond paning. The primary (south) elevation and a short length of the west elevation are faced with limestone, while the remainder is comprised of brick. Windows along the south side of this block are double-hung, replacement sash windows that are arranged singly and in pairs and are topped with modest stone hood molds. The entire west elevation is devoid of fenestration. A four(+) story belltower with corner buttressing connects the Guild Hall to the church proper, all of which is sheathed with limestone. The south elevation of the church features an arched arcade that shelters the pair of double-door entrances to the church, while an additional entry is located within the base of the tower. Tall, narrow slit-like windows trimmed with stone illuminate the church’s interior. A variety of shield designs are evident on the stone ornamentation of the front (south side) of the church.
St. Paul’s Evangelical Church & Guild Hall was built in 1961 and 1950, respectively. Although meetings occurred as early as the 1850s, St. Paul’s Evangelical congregation was not formally established until 1862, after which they were accepted into the German United Evangelical Synod the following year. Following the departure of a number of members (due to doctrinal differences), those remaining built a church at the corner of 5th and Washington streets. A second split occurred in 1881, which resulted in the formation of St. Stephen’s German Lutheran congregation. Those members remaining with St. Paul’s built another church, that one executed in brick. A parsonage was built in 1912 at 312 N. 5th Street (since moved to 415 Division Street) and the former Germania Hotel (no longer extant), which was located across the street from the church was purchased and used as a Guild Hall. In May 1949, construction of a new $258,000 Guild Hall began. Designed by Oppenhamer & Obel, it was completed in late summer of 1950 and dedication was held on 15 October 1950. Beginning in 1956, the congregation had hired the Oshkosh architectural firm of Orion & Reinke to consult regarding a new church. Work on a new edifice began on 16 May 1960, at which time the building cost was estimated at $330,000. The datestone was laid on 2 October 1960. During construction, services were held in the auditorium of the Guild Hall. Dedication services were held on 26 June 1961 and the final cost of the church totaled $365,000, including furnishings and the pipe organ. Although some small windows were salvaged from the previous church, most windows in the new church were designed by Gabriel Loire from glass created for him by his daughter, who was a specialist in glass chemistry. Over three hundred shades of glass are represented. The St. Paul’s congregation continues to worship in the facility to date. |
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| Bibliographic References: | “The St. Paul’s Story, 1863-1963,” Booklet prepared by the congregation, pages 28, 31, 35, 39; In St. Paul’s Evangelical Church file, Marathon County Historical Society Research Library; Malaguti & Norton, “Final Report: Intensive Historic Survey,” 184-85. |
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