South Central Houston in Harris County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
First Evangelical Church
The first sanctuary was a wooden building on the southeast corner of Texas Avenue at Milam Street. In 1901, under the Rev. William L. Blasberg (1862-1935), the congregation moved to the northwest corner of Texas at Caroline, to a new red brick and sandstone sanctuary. After selling the second structure in 1926, the First Evangelical Church, as it became known, purchased this site. Under the leadership of the Rev. Detlev Baltzer (1889-1962), the congregation hired architect Joseph W. Northrop, Jr., who had moved to Houston to oversee construction of the original Rice Institute, now Rice University. James West was general contractor for the new church campus, and J.C Nolan and the Star Electric and Engineering company held sub-contracts.
Northrop's North Italian Romanesque styling features terra cotta roof tiles on the sanctuary, education building and parsonage, as well as a campanile, or bell tower. The buildings were constructed of interlocking concrete tiles covered with buff-face brick and white sandstone trim. The campanile's bell was forged in 1880 and has rung at each of the congregation's places of worship. The tower connects the sanctuary to the seven-bay arched portalis of the education building, which houses a stage, sports facilities, auditoriums and classrooms. The sanctuary's details include pulpit and altar made by master woodcarvers from Oberammergau, Germany. Pews and chancel furnishings, designed by Northrop, are by the American Seating Company. The choir loft houses a 1903 Kilgen and Son pipe organ, and the stained glass windows are from the Browne Window Company.
Erected 2002 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 12912.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Churches & Religion. A significant historical date for this entry is July 1, 1851.
Location. 29° 44.297′ N, 95° 22.538′ W. Marker is in Houston, Texas, in Harris County. It is in South Central Houston. Marker is at the intersection of Holman Street and Caroline Street, on the right when traveling west on Holman Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1311 Holman Street, Houston TX 77004, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. San Jacinto High School (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Temple Beth Israel (about 400 feet away); Trinity Episcopal Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Houston Light Guard Armory (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Houston Light Guard (approx. 0.2 miles away); South Main Baptist Church (approx. 0.4 miles away); Houston's First Sit-in (approx. half a mile away); Courtlandt Place (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Houston.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 7, 2018, by Brian Anderson of Humble, Texas. This page has been viewed 284 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 7, 2018, by Brian Anderson of Humble, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.