Property Record
152 E 4TH ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Congregational Church |
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| Other Name: | New Richmond Public Schools Administrative Offices |
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| Reference Number: | 48062 |
| Location (Address): | 152 E 4TH ST |
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| County: | St. Croix |
| City: | New Richmond |
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| Year Built: | 1867 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1983 |
| Historic Use: | church |
| Architectural Style: | Other Vernacular |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Aluminum/Vinyl Siding |
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| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | Yes |
| Demolished Date: | 0 |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | The one story building has a rectangular plan and aluminum siding exterior fabric. The roof is gabled. Ther rae numerous additions. Entries are on East Fourth Street and South Arch Avenue. Windows are irregularly placed, have shutters and are of various types. There is a basement. Drastic alterations throughout the years have caused this building to lose its architectural integrity. It is possibly the oldest structure in New Richmond, but because of alterations it has no architectural significance. It is not recognizable as a church which is what it originally was. Around 1866 the Congregational Church was established in New Richomond, J.P. Bartlett was president and Mr. Wells was the Reverend. By 1880 there were 60 members. In 1867 a church was built of wood. An addition in 1892 cost $1,300.00. The church withstood the 1899 tornado but needed repairs. It was used as a temporary hospital at this time. Windows had been smashed and the steeple damaged, still services were held for the Congregationalists and other Protestants. In 1926 after a fire destroyed the high school building, the church was used for classes. In 1930 the Congregationalists and Methodists merged as the Federated church. Each denomination had a small membershipn and money problems. The building was sold for $5,000.00 to St. Luke's Lutheran Church in 1945. it was remodeled in 1947 and used as a church until 1969. At this point the school system bought the church and used it for 6th grade classes. They paid $21,000.00. It was estimated to cost $10,000.00 to remodel it. Today it is used as administrative offices. An earlier photo shows a clapboard church with large 2/2 windows. The windows and doors have entablature head frames. The doors rae in the same location that they are in today, although not the same ones. A bell tower steeple had a hip roof with a finial and two arched openings on each of its four sides. This was above the entry that faces South Arch Avenue. This building has played an important role in the development of the city. It has been used as a relief and community center during two disasters (fire and tornado). Unfortunately, alterations have so damaged the building that its historical role is not represented by the existing structure. |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. 100+5 edition of "The News." |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |