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First Congregational Church (La Crosse, Wisconsin) Records

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 045, Micro 18

Scope and Contents

Records of First Congregational Church, 1859-1936, of La Crosse, Wisconsin, which is affiliated with the United Church of Christ, include congregational minutes, 1859-1883; lists of members received and removed, 1852-1915; baptisms, 1882-1936; and marriages, 1888-1936. Despite the early date of organization, the sacramental records do not begin until 1882 and 1888.

Originally there were three churches on this reel of microfilm. For patron ease, these have been spliced apart. As a result, this reel starts with item 5 instead of being labeled item 1. If the original volume had pagination (page numbers), then these are included in the reel list below.

Dates

  • 1859-1936

Creator

Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for patron use.

Historical Note

Organized on January 22, 1852, the First Congregational Church is the second oldest church in La Crosse. On this day, twelve Congregationalists and Presbyterians formed a union church, and at the same time and place the First Baptist Church was being established at the home of S. T. Smith. The First Congregational Church became a member of the Presbyterian and Congregational Convention of Wisconsin in October of 1855. A separate Presbyterian Church was organized in 1866.

Until a lot at the southeast corner of Fourth and Jay Streets was donated by the Peter Cameron estate for the completion of a church in December 1855, the members met at various locations such as the old wooden courthouse and the Old Third Ward brick school house. In 1870 the church at Fourth and Jay Streets was sold to the Norwegian Lutheran Church. A new church was built on the corner of Seventh and Main Streets in an American Gothic style. This building was partially razed after it was found to be structurally unsound, leaving only the 1931 addition across the back. The third church building was constructed at Losey Boulevard and Main Street with a dedication of the new church being held on September 13, 1953 (Haas, Charles E. Bless the Work of Our Hands. La Crosse, WI: First Congregational Church, 1984). The church at 2503 Main Street is a multi-level, flat-roofed structure with a Winona stone exterior. It is also complete with a large educational wing. Remodeling efforts of the fellowship hall and sanctuary have been accomplished in the 1990s.

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Organized on January 22, 1852, the First Congregational Church is the second oldest church in La Crosse. The First Congregational Church of La Crosse, Wisconsin is affiliated nationally with the United Church of Christ.

Records on microfilm include congregational minutes, 1859-1883; lists of members received and removed, 1852-1915; baptisms, 1882-1936; and marriages, 1888-1936.

Acquisitions Information

(Accession No. 1997.023) Purchased by the Archives with gift funds from the Genealogical Society of Utah with permission of Rev. Jerry Jordan, Oct. 1997. Originals filmed in July 1981; GSU control number 1306452.

Physical Description

1 reel of 35 mm microfilm

OCLC Number

47043534

Processing Information

Finding aid written by Anita Taylor Doering, Dec. 1997.

Title
Guide to the First Congregational Church (La Crosse, Wisconsin) Records, 1859-1936
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid written by Anita Taylor Doering, Dec. 1997.
Date
1997 December
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the La Crosse Public Library Archives Repository

Contact:
800 Main St.
La Crosse Wisconsin 54601
(608) 789-7136