Downtown in Platteville in Grant County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

First Congregational Church

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 10, 2023

1. First Congregational Church Marker

Inscription. This property has been
placed on the
National
Register of
Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Churches & Religion • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1869.

Location. 42° 44.14′ N, 90° 28.714′ W. Marker is in Platteville, Wisconsin, in Grant County. It is in Downtown. Marker is on Market Street just west of North Bonson Street, on the right when traveling west. The marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject building, just to the left of the front entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 80 Market Street, Platteville WI 53818, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Platteville Carnegie Library (within shouting distance of this marker); Civic Memorial Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Main Street Commercial Historic District Platteville (about 300 feet away); Lincoln's Gettysburg Speech (about 400 feet away); Platteville's First Church Building (about 500 feet away); First State Normal School

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(about 800 feet away); The Frank Burg House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lewis & Clark Expedition Member Alexander H. Willard Lived Here (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Platteville.

Regarding First Congregational Church. National Register of Historic Places #85001359.

From the National Register Nomination:
With 9 members the Congregational Church was first organized as a Presbyterian congregation August 17, 1839, which was during the early years of lead mining in this area and resulted in rapid development of what is now the southwestern part of Wisconsin. Their first church was built at the corner of Bonson and Furnace Streets in 1846. In 1849 the congregation voted and changed church government from Presbyterian to Congregational. The first church was razed and this one erected in 1869. Designed by George Nettleton of Janesville, Wisconsin and costing $11,000, this historic church structure is one of the two most elaborate of the surviving 19th century churches in Platteville, maintained for the most part as it was built, both exterior and interior. While the Gothic Revival was favored by Episcopalian and Catholic parishes, the Romanesque
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 10, 2023

2. First Congregational Church Marker
Marker is mounted on left side of the front/south entrance.
style was generally preferred by Congregationalists and other low-church groups. This building along with the extensions at the rear (1895) is important to the city because it is the only remaining church without the pointed windows of the Gothic style and it holds an important visual site, fronting on the city park one block from Main Street.
The present First Congregational United Church of Christ church, facing south, includes the original brick structure built in 1869, partially from brick and other materials of the previous church, with a square tower and octagonal steeple adjoining at the southeast corner. Also included is the 1895 brick veneered extension at the rear, which was made in material, scale, and form sympathetic to the original church.

Also see . . .
1. First Congregational Church (Wikipedia). Excerpt:

The First Congregational Church was built in the Romanesque architecture style in 1869 and expanded in 1895. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 19, 1985, for its architectural significance.

(Submitted on December 17, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. United Church of Christ, Platteville: Our History. Excerpt:

In 1957 the United Church of Christ was officially formed through the union
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 10, 2023

3. First Congregational Church
(southeast elevation)
of the Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Churches. We are proud of our rich heritage of involvement in social justice issues.
• In 1849 we passed a resolution to abolish slavery.
• In 1866, Sarah Buck, a teacher of Reading at the Normal School, was the first woman to preach from our pulpit.
• In the 1980s the congregation voted to oppose use of nuclear weapons.
• In 2008 the congregation voted to become an Open and Affirming Congregation, making explicit our welcome of all people and especially affirming the LGBTQ community.

(Submitted on December 17, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

First Congregational Church (<i>southwest elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 10, 2023

4. First Congregational Church (southwest elevation)

First Congregational Church (<i>west elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 10, 2023

5. First Congregational Church (west elevation)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 17, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 16, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 51 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on December 17, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.