River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-02-07
The New Church Its Inception and Com
pletion.

that church was imperativsly de-
manded for the growing population
which was then finding home in the
Kinnickinnic Valley. Up to this
time few meetings had been held,
some In the old Pioneer Store, some in
the Prairie Mills then being erected,
and others in Pomeroy's new barn
which now still stands on his farm
near the village. A large majority of
the people here at that time favored
in their religious belief the system in
vogue in New England of church gov
eminent and hence the sectarian ques-
ton was not raised, but at the outset a
Congregational church was determin-
ed upon and in fact a society of that
denomination was then organized.
Money was not plenty but there were
willing hands and with a small out.
side aid the old church was erected.
Nearly decade had passed when
the termination of the war brought
home the soldiers with new aspirations
for usefulness and labor together with
large western emigration which
soon filled the old church to overflow
ing and new edifice was determined
upon. There was plenty of enthusi-
asm and self sacrifice and large dona-
tions were made to aid in the good
work and the foundations were laid
for a commodious structure capable
of containing an audience of five hun
bred people. But Providence does
not always order things as men see
them. Unexpected difficulties in rails
ing means and the fact that the cost
exceeded the original estimates caus-
ed a cessation of work which was then
hoped to be only temporary. but unfor-
tunately,as was then supposed.a storm
beat upon that house and it fell. The
people were discouraged. Several
thousand dollars had been expended
and all in vain and it was impossible
to raise means to rebuild.
Sadly the society refitted cheaply
their old house, yearly expecting to
remove and as often disappointed.
But at length it became evident that
the work of the old church was near
ly done. 1t needed repairs, some of
which were rather reluctantly put on.
| 1t was cold, behind the times. New
faces appeared in the audience who
had been accustomed to better accom-
| modations until at last finding the
men too little enthusiastic some ladies
| made a resolve that new church
should be built without authority
from the corporation and with little
encouragement from those who should
have aided at the outset they set forth
on their apparently hopeless mission.
Their highest ambition was then to
raise four thousand dollars, but when
they had advanced far enough to feel
warranted in procuring plans it was
found that double that amount would
be needed to secure such accommoda-
lions as the church required.
This was somewhat disheartening
but they had infused courage in many
who had hitherto been lukewarm.
Then, too, unexpected aid had come
from people who were not members
of the church. 1t was evident that
the citizens of the village demanded
better church privileges than they had
possessed; and so the ladies resolved
to perseyere.
The result has been the erection of
building which may rank favorably
with our other public edifces. While
not pretentious it is commodious and
convenient and finished thoroughly in
every part. The workmanship has
been honest and no shams have been
permitted.
As completed the building is seven
ty-five feetinlength and fifty-six feetin
width. It contains an audience room
51x45 feet. 20 feet in height. On
the east side of this room is sabbath
school room 3lx20 feet opening into
the audience room by folding doors,
thus enabling the room to be used in
case of large audience. Opening in
to the sabbath school room is room
25xI5 to be used for ladies parlor
and class room, while on the north is
still another class room of convenient
size. A second story over the sabbath
schoolsrooms is not yet completed.
The exterior of the building is of
wood painted in neutral tints. The
interior is entirely finished in oak and
hard oil finished without staining so
as to give the natural tints of the
wood. No granting or other artificial
device has been used all being in nat
ural colors, and the effect is exceeding
ly fine. Few buildings present more
attractive interior than this, and the
entire work reflects much credit upon
the builder, Mr.. Rhoads, who while
laboring under the disadvantage of a
low price for his contract and difficult
| ty in obtaining workmen who were
accustomed to working in hard woods,
has endeavored in every part to do a
job which should at once be credita-
BILE to himself and acceptable to the So
ciety. 1t is not too much to say that he
has achieved substantial success III
his endeavors and has the gratitude of
the congregation for his faithful la.
bors and good material furnished.
The church is heated with two fur
naces of large size which have, dur-
ing the past cold weather, proved
abundantly equal to the task of warm
ing the building.
The windows are of stained glass of
elegant designs from the factory of
Messrs. Wells & Bro, of Chicago, and
cost complete, seven hundred and six
ty dollars. There are six memorial
windows one erected by the students
of Prof. Wilcox TO his memory, one
by the old residents and friends to the
,,,ar,a~v 80 W ID Cfoobopc Tbic win.