Frankfort in Benzie County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

First Congregational Church

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, September 27, 2020

1. First Congregational Church Marker

Side 1

Inscription. On January 26, 1868, twenty-three early Frankfort residents founded First Congregational Church of Frankfort. They received guidance from an established Congregational Church in Benzonia, Michigan. In accordance with the practices of Congregationalism, the founders adopted a seven-article confession, covenant and by-laws to form the basis of church governance. The first elected Deacons were Richard Ball and W.H. Marsh. The Reverend A.H. Fletcher was the first pastor.

In 1871 the members of First Congregational Church of Frankfort built this church with its eighty-seven-foot-high steeple on land donated by the Frankfort Land Company. The company’s manager, Eugene B. Frost, was a charter member of the church. Donations from Frankfort residents and a loan from the Congregational Church Building Society financed the $5,000 building cost. The church completed the rear addition, built to house offices and Sunday school classrooms, in 1960.

Erected 2017 by Michigan Historical Commission, Michigan History Center. (Marker Number L2296.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1871.

Location. 44° 38.023′ N, 86° 14.286′ W. Marker is in Frankfort, Michigan, in Benzie County. It is at the intersection of Forest Avenue and 5th Street, on the right when traveling west on Forest Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 431 Forest Ave, Frankfort MI 49635, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Michigan Lower Peninsula, in the Grand Traverse Bay Region, and in one of the Lake Michigan Shore counties. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes.

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Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: War Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Marquette's Death (approx. 0.3 miles away); Gravestone at Point Betsie (approx. 4.1 miles away); Fog Signal Building (approx. 4.1 miles away); Oil House (approx. 4.1 miles away); Site of the First College Building (approx. 6.9 miles away); Benzonia College (approx. 6.9 miles away); Mills Community House (approx. 6.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Frankfort.

Also see . . . Church history from its website. (Submitted on March 9, 2021.)

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, September 27, 2020

2. First Congregational Church Marker

Side 2

First Congregational Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, September 27, 2020

3. First Congregational Church

Credits. This page was last revised on March 9, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 9, 2021, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 469 times since then and 54 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 9, 2021, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.