Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1909-07-16


Clover club. 1t was voted at that
raise $1,000 for a church building
fund. This action and the heroic way
in which the members and officers of
the club at once went to work en-
couraged the church to look forward
to larger things.
1t had long been realized that this
church was in need of extensive re-
pairs. 1t was also felt hat this
would at least require a complete
remodelling of the building. At a
meeting of the church and congrega-
ton held June %, 1908, the sentiment
seemed to be in favor of a remodelled
church, but a committee consisting
of Mrs. L. L. Parks, Mr.. r. Achten
hagen and Mr.. Rehm was appointed
to canvas the situation and ascertain
whether it would not be eXpedient to
plan for a new church. This COM
mittee was empowered to decide for
a remOdelled or new church. After
considering the matter all summer
this committee decided to submit the
question to the trustees, the Sunday
school superintendent and the presi-
dent of the Glover club, which organ
lied itself as joint committee with
the original committee. This joint
committee decided to recommend
building a new church on condition
that $1,000, including the Glover club
pledge, be raised. 1t was also voted
tn hni1H aaanp1incr RI hu
Van Ryn & DeGelleke of Milwaukee,
for the Two Rivers Congregational
church. The $1,000 were soon pledged
and at the annual meeting of the
church and congregatOn on January
II, 1909, it was decided to build a
new edifice costing about 81 900.
In March the old building was sold
penter; Mallow 6 Kadadtz, masons;
William Schiebel plumber; Schmutz-
Ter & Heismann, painters.
The building committee consists Of
the Rev. H. G. Rehm, chairman, Mr..
R. Achtenhagen, Mr.. E. A. Pratt, Mr..
A. D. Platz, Mrs L. L. Parks, and Mr.
c. A. Skinner
The cost of the building will be
about $4,000, which includes price of
the memorial windows donated by
Mr.. G. A. Skinner, Mrs. w. G. Stone,
Mrs. p. G. Bergman, Mr. Lee Skin
ner for the late G. B. Skinner and
wife, and also by Mrs. G. B. Lewis for
the late G. B. Lewis, by Mrs. H. Don
ner for a Bennett memorial, by Mrs.
Jesse Stone for former Lieut.-Gov.
Jesse Stone, by Mrs. F. M. Piper for
Piper memorial. Misses Katherine
and Lucy Hall have also contributed
$500 each which will be used in pay
ment on the $3.50 Kimball pipe organ
purchased for the new church. This
instrument will be Hall memorial.
History of the Church.
The First Congregational church in
Watertown was organized by the
Rev. Stephen Peet, agent of the
Home Missionary society, July IS,
| 1915, or just sixty-four years ago. The
! first meeting was held i'll the only
schoolhOuse up to that time within
the city limits Of WATERFOWL. The
society was composed chiefly Of Pres
| byterians, but an organization was eff
fected in accordance with the Con-
gregational faith. The first commun-
| icants were George Breckenridge,
William Dunlavy, o. K. Coe, Nancy
| Breckenridge, Jane A. Dunlavy, Mary
j. Scott, Paulina S. COe, Maria Shears,
| Harriet Montgomery. A church edi-
| flee was erected in 1850 on the site
| of the proposed new church at a cost
of $500 1t was enlarged twice
since, the first time in 1858 and again
| in 1872. The first pastor was the
| Rev. B. e F. Parsons, and during his
pastorate services were held in the
old Cramer block, 113 and lis West
| Main street. The succeeding
pastors were the Revs. J. G. Craig
head, N. c. Chaplin, w. A. Niles,
Charles Boynton, w. H. Ryder, Char
| les G. Cragin, w. A. Hendrickson r.
G. Bedford, James M. Campbell, G. c.
Weiss, w. T. Ream, William Fritze-
meier, Thomas B. Thompson, and the
present pastor, H. C. Rehm.
In 1883 a cosy parsonage was built
which is still the home of the minis
| ter attending the charge.
The present church now under con-
struction is being built at a cost of
| $12,500 and with an organ costing
| $2100, will cost the congregation the
sum of $14.600.