Franklin in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Painesville Chapel

Erected 1852

Photographed by Donald Wick, November 15, 2025

1. Painesville Chapel Marker

Inscription.
Built by Protestants from Wittenburg, Germany who settled in Franklin and Oak Creek. The chapel served the first free congregation in Wisconsin

The building was also used as an Army Depot during the Civil War as well as by the Underground Railroad

Erected 1939 by Painesville Memorial Association.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • Immigration • Religion & Religious Structures • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1852.

Location. 42° 52.368′ N, 87° 57.132′ W. Marker is in Franklin, Wisconsin, in Milwaukee County. It is on West Ryan Road (Wisconsin Route 100) west of Alternate Interstate 94, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2740 W Ryan Rd, Franklin WI 53132, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Wisconsin and in Greater Milwaukee.

It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: 41 Twin Outdoor Theatre (approx. 2.3 miles away); Gazebo is Our 'Gathering Place' (approx. 5.2 miles away); Alonzo Hauser (1909 - 1988) (approx. 5.2 miles away); Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Depot (approx. 5.2 miles away); 6600 Schoolway (approx. 5.2 miles

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away); The Panama Canal (approx. 5.2 miles away); Bucyrus Foundry and Manufacturing Company (approx. 5.2 miles away); Eleanor Was Here! (approx. 5.2 miles away).

Other markers no longer nearby. Greendale, Wisconsin (was approx. 5.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing); Lawson Airplane Company (was approx. 5.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . Painesville Memorial Association. The Painesville Memorial Association is responsible for the maintenance and preservation of the meeting hall and cemetery.

Contains a list of individuals buried in the cemetery and a history of the building.

(Submitted on November 18, 2025, by Donald Wick of Franklin, Wisconsin.)

Painesville Chapel Front View image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Donald Wick, November 15, 2025

2. Painesville Chapel Front View

Painesville Chapel Angle View image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Donald Wick, November 2025

3. Painesville Chapel Angle View

Painesville Chapel Building Plaques image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Donald Wick, November 2025

4. Painesville Chapel Building Plaques

Credits. This page was last revised on November 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 17, 2025, by Donald Wick of Franklin, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 70 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 17, 2025, by Donald Wick of Franklin, Wisconsin. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.