The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-12-14
4 Church Dedicated in the Morning and Dc
= E--E- StruYtd an tiOnf Afterwards, -,

I -
Two events occurred yesterday tn,
same locality, of such widely different char
acter as to call forth strong emotions in the
religious community, first Of joy---joy thai
in an hour turned to most poignant sorrow
We refer to the dedication and the destruc
! ton BY. fire. of the new frame Church recent
| ly erected at the corner of jackson and Pc
oria streets by, the Free Will Baptists of the
city. at the usual hour of morning service,
in accordance with a previous announce
ment, the church. was formerly dedicated to
the service of God, + The congregation had
dispersed to their several BONES to partici
pate in the festivities of the day, when, al
half past one clock in1-the. afternoon, fire
was discovered raging in the unfinished
basement 'rhe alarm was promptly given,
but by the time. the engines arrived the
flames had involved the whole lower por-
ton of the structure. In vain were streams
poured into the doomed church. Onward
and upward surged the flames, bursting
through the floor, Selling upon the sacred
belongings and wrapped the entire building
in their destructive embrace. Nave, archi-
trave andreof pews, pulpit and gallery, all
succumbed, and i'll an hour that comely
place Of worship was a heap OF dust and
cinders. e From, the roof the flames climbed
the tall wooden spire, and the sight presen-
ted was magnificent indeed; and when the
pinnacle fell, the work. Of destruction was
complete. gaf.el i...s.s--oau ell e. wa
Adjoining the church was a handsome
large two story building, occupied by the
society as place Of worship previous to The
construction Of the Church, but intended to
be used heuceforth for educational purposes,
This structure was also burned to the
ground. -. ..-.1s o.. e..,,s.S
The fire was witnessed by thousands Of
our citizens, whose expressions ofregret at
the disaster evinced the existence of a
strong religious spirit, that speaks n well for
our Community. Such an event. indeed, is
a social calamity, and no where in the
world could it have produced a deeper emo
HtiOn. it-i r ..sr 81 raa.E ,.s7
The church edifce has just been COM
pIeted, as before mentioned at cost of
$4,000, was capable of seating 600 per-
soDs and was beautifully decorated in its
Interior The building was u wooden one,
Standing upon brick foundation, which
formed the walls of the lecture room. This
portion of the structure, which also con
Gdlueu Tic uedtluS apparatus was uhuu-
ished-s Externally it was painted brown
color, and presented a very plain, substan
tial aud pleasing appearance Upon the
ground it covered an area OTIS by 40 feet
The auditorium was reached by a winding
staircase upon each side of the main en-
trance. The arrangements for warming
and Lighting were considered perfect, al
though the fire undoubtedly originated from
some defectin the furnaces. The pulpit
which stood at the rear of the church, WAS
.tastefully decorated and furnished with a
rosewood sofa and chairs, Above, the cell
ing was tastefulIy frescoed in panels, and
frescoed drapery added grace to the other
surroundings Of the pulpit In front Of it
stood splendid communion table, with q
marble top At the front of the building,
over the main entrance, was a recess for a
large choir and beautiful organ. 1t is a
relief to know that this organ was removed
in safety from the doomed building. The
floors were carpeted, but the cushions Of
the pews had not yet been placed within
them. Chicago Journal. @1=@ ,sasa.