The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1901-10-03
The Old Congregational Church Being
Cleared AWAY.
NEW BUILDING TO BE ERECTED.
Of the History of the Pioneer
Church Building of this City Which
Will Give Way for q More
Modern Building.
One of the old landmarks of Wash

One of the old landmarks of Wash
burn, the First Congregational
church building, having passed the
days of it's usefulness, is now being
leveled to earth, and new and
more elaborate home for the church
society will be erected in it's stead.
The last services were held in the
church last Sunday evening, and on
Monday force of men began the
work of tearing down the old build
ing. The demolition of the structure
will be completed this week, and
early next week John Halloran will
begin the construction of the new
church edifce. Much OF the timber
and lumber of the old structure will
be used in the new building. The
Congregationalists will hold services
in the Masonic hall, until such time
as the new building is ready for use.
AS the foundation for the new struc
ture was laid year ago, and the
basement partly completed, the work
of putting up the new building will
undoubtedly progress rapidly, and
it will, not be many weeks before the
church is in it's new home. The old
building, which is being torn down,
was built in two parts. The front
part of the building was erected in
the fall of 1884, and in 1885 was en-
larged to its present proportions.
The first part of the building was
put up by j. P. Fogle and the rest
of the building was the work of John
Halloran, who is to build the new
edifice. The first pastor OF the
church was Rev. N Feather, who
was here tor one year. In the winter
of 1885 the building was used for
school purposes, and was the only
school in the city. Mr.. L. N Clausen
was the teacher, and conducted
FIVE months term. Miss Mary Mel
son had conducted a term Of school
the previous year in building which
stood about where Mr.. Halloran's
carpenter shop now is. Mr.. Clausen
in speaking of his school to The
TIMES, says that it was queer mix
ture, and that the building was full
of pupils, ranging in age from three
to twenty years. In 1886, Rev.
Rigley became the pastor of the
church, and as school room had been
provided by that time, Mr.. Riylt y
occupied the place as residence.
He was one of those minister's COM
mon for the size of his large family,
so he occupied the church building.
and services were conducted in the
Raft hall, which is the same building
that will now be used temporarily.
The Congregational Church society
is the oldest in the city. and their
building was the first one put up
here. Naturally they became the
leading Prostes tant denomination,
and they have ever since been the
strongest church in the city. The
original membership of the Church
was composed of the following seven
persons, viz: Theodore Bender,
Walter Baptie, F. E. Lawrence, Rev.
n. Feather, Mrs. Hannah Feather,
Mrs. Marguerite Baptie and Mrs.
Mary Hammer. From this small be-
ginning the membership gradually
increased until there are now about
eighty-five members on the church
roll. Mr. L. N. Clausen was one of
the first persons in the city to be-
come iden tilted with the church and
he has been associated with it up to
the present day. He has been re-
quested by the pastor, Reverend
Mcintosh, to prepare a history of
The church, and be will do so. The
history will be placed in manuscript
form, and will be read at some
church service within the near
future.
A Strange Experience.