Vermontville in Eaton County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
First Congregational Church
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou
1. First Congregational Church Marker
Inscription.
First Congregational Church. . The Rev. Sylvester Cochrane, a Congregational minister from Vermont, first conceived of a settlement in Michigan after a visit here in 1835. Returning home he formed a group called the Union Colony, which settled in Vermontville the next year. The colonists were religiously oriented, and one of their stated purposes in settling here was to “remove the moral darkness” which they thought pervaded the West. Church services were first held in a log cabin and later in the Academy across the street. The present church was dedicated in 1864. The building strongly resembles certain New England meetinghouses of the late eighteenth century, especially in its roof framing of roughly hewn timbers and in much of the interior woodwork.
The Rev. Sylvester Cochrane, a Congregational minister from Vermont, first conceived of a settlement in Michigan after a visit here in 1835. Returning home he formed a group called the Union Colony, which settled in Vermontville the next year. The colonists were religiously oriented, and one of their stated purposes in settling here was to “remove the moral darkness” which they thought pervaded the West. Church services were first held in a log cabin and later in the Academy across the street. The present church was dedicated in 1864. The building strongly resembles certain New England meetinghouses of the late eighteenth century, especially in its roof framing of roughly hewn timbers and in much of the interior woodwork.
Erected 1970 by Michigan Historical Commission. (Marker Number HB54.)
Location. 42° 37.728′ N, 85° 1.499′ W. Marker is in Vermontville, Michigan, in Eaton County. Marker is at the intersection of South Main Street and West Main Street, on the right when traveling south
Click or scan to see this page online
on South Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 110 South Main Street, Vermontville MI 49096, United States of America. Touch for directions.
The Academy across the street as mentioned on the marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 5, 2022. It was originally submitted on February 3, 2022, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 84 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 3, 2022, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.