Property Record
510 COLE ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | MORAVIAN CHURCH |
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| Other Name: | WATERTOWN MORAVIAN CHURCH |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 7144 |
| Location (Address): | 510 COLE ST |
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| County: | Jefferson |
| City: | Watertown |
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| Year Built: | 1904 |
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| Additions: | 1953C. 1920 |
| Survey Date: | 1986 |
| Historic Use: | house of worship |
| Architectural Style: | Late Gothic Revival |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Cream Brick |
| Architect: | FRANK LINDSAY; Foeller, Schober, Berhers, Stafford & John |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| 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, State Historic Preservation Office. Built in 1904, this early 20th century Gothic Revival or late Gothic styled church is characterized mainly by the square entrance towers ornamented by wooden spires, battlements and crenellations. Also functioning as a bell tower, the east tower flanking the gabled facade has Gothic arched belfry openings filled with wooden tracery and balustrade as well as lancet windows and pointed arched entrance. Exhibiting the simple and smoother surfaces of the later Gothic style, the cream brick church is characterized further by large pointed arched stained glass windows in the facade and east facade or transept and stained glass transom windows over the double leafed entrance doors over the double leafed entrance doors, buttressing on the east tower and decorative shingles on the west gable. A gabled entrance projects from the east elevation. A two-story modern addition is located on the west side of the church. The Moravian church was remodeled in the 1920s, principally on the interior. The Moravian Church is significant under Criterion C as an excellently preserved examples of the early 20th century Gothic Revival architecture, also known as the Late Gothic Revival. One of three well preserved examples of Gothic styled church architecture designed in the early 20th century in Watertown, the Moravian church exhibits the simple surfaces and form of the late Gothic style, the pointed arched windows and doors as well as the entrance tower embellished with spires and crenellations associated with the Gothic Revival style. The other well-preserved examples of early 20th century Gothic Revival churches are the United Pentecostal Church (Baptist) at 315 So. 5th (41-8) and the Bethesda Chapel (59-33). Two more significant examples of Gothic Revival church architecture built in the 19th century are St. Paul's Episcopal Church at 413 So. 2nd (42-32) and St. Bernard's Church at 100 So. Church (54-2). This building is the third and current church structure for the Moravian congregation in Watertown. The Watertown Moravian Church was established in 1854, after city Moravians worshiped for several years in a rural Watertown Moravian Church. The first building erected for the city church was at 609 Cole. A new church was erected on this site in 1864, then the present building replaced it in 1904. This church was renovated and remodeled significantly during the 1920s. It continues to serve the church today. This church building has local historical interest as the third and current home of the Watertown Moravian Church The Watertown Moravian Church was one of only a few of these ethnically-related churches in the state in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Because the Moravian church was an unusual ethnic church in Wisconsin, sites affiliated with it have significance. However, since the first church for this congregation still stands at 609 Cole St., this church building, constructed in 1904 after the peak settlement era, probably does not have enough significance to meet the local history criteria. If the building at 609 Cole St. is no longer extant, then this building, as the only remaining resource associated with the Moravian Church in Watertown, would have increased historical significance. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Building inscription, cornerstone. (B) Watertown Daily Times 10/31/1954; 4/8/1994. (C) Arthur Schwarz, "The Moravian Church, Watertown, Wisconsin," 1936, on file at the Watertown Historical Society, Octagon House, Watertown, Wisconsin, pp. 2-8. (D) "Moravian Church Diamond Jubilee Services Sunday," Watertown Daily Times, September 5, 1929, n.p. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |