| 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, State Historic Preservation Office.
Additional Information, 2024:
Architecture:
The Mt. Zion Primitive Methodist Church sits in a rural location along a county highway. A cemetery sits behind the church on the grounds. The building is one-story in height with a rectangular plan, a gable roof, and Greek Revival architectural details. The building sits on several rows of regularly coursed limestone blocks sitting on a limestone rubble foundation. The roof is covered with modern standing seam metal panels. Rising from the roof is a square, two-part, bell tower. The lower, larger, portion of the tower has no openings, but there are large openings in the upper part of the tower. These openings are enclosed, one with old shutters and three with plywood. The bell tower has a hip roof, wide eaves, a plain frieze, and pilasters. The main elevation of the church features a full pediment and a recessed front porch covering a large main entrance that consists of two large wooden doors with gothic-arched panels. The rear wall is plain with returned eaves. The two side walls are identical with large symmetrical openings filled with nine-over-six-light, double-hung sashes except for two openings that are enclosed with old shutters.
The interior of the church building consists of the sanctuary. The ceiling is arched and it and the walls are covered with mid-20th century dry wall affixed by dark-stained horizontal and vertical boards in a square pattern. Where some of the dry wall has been damaged, it appears that the dry wall was placed over original lath and plaster. On the lower part of the walls there is original horizontal board wainscoting with a heavy chair rail that is stepped along the front wall accenting the altar. The floors are covered with boards that are painted. The church has what appear to be original pews, constructed in a simple box-like form with plain wood. The side pews are attached to the wainscoting and there is a set of central pews. The altar sits on a raised semi-circular platform and is simply decorated with classical details including paneled pilasters. A semi-circular balustrade sits at the edge of the platform. It has a walnut railing and walnut turned posts. A large iron stove with a long stovepipe sits in the back of the church. No modern heating, electrical fixtures, or plumbing fixtures have been put into the church.
History:
The Mt. Zion Primitive Methodist Church was opened in the fall of 1871 and had regular services until 1920. After that time, services were irregular, but the church was still being used as a community center and for some religious services. Most services were carried out by Methodist ministers, but the church had an unusual ecumenical concept as services were also carried out by ministers of other faiths, including Lutherans. Even a 4-H Club held services in the church building and parishioners came from many families in the area. It became a non-denominational church that also acted as a community center in the 20th century.
Carol Cartwright 2024 |
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