2631 N. MEADE STREET, SUITE 101, APPLETON, WI (920) Back

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2631 N. MEADE STREET, SUITE 101, APPLETON, WI 54911 (920) 540-3699 www.appletonhistory.org Back MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, June 8, 2016 St.

1 2631 N. MEADE STREET, SUITE 101, APPLETON, WI (920) Back MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, June 8, 2016 St. Bernadette s Catholic School PROGRAM SUMMARY Hidden Churches of Appleton CALL TO ORDER BY PRESIDENT TOM SUTTER TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 69 OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE: Tom Sutter, James Richter, Laura Leimer, Mark Moderson, Brian Schneider, Gwen Sargeant, Linda Muldoon, Jim Krueger, and Diana Sandberg. REVIEW OF UPCOMING MEETINGS AND PROGRAMS: July 13 Appleton War Memorials Alex Schultz August 10 WHBY Steve Bell September 14 Rio Theater and Worlitzer organ Tom McNeely October 12 Haunted Appleton Chad Lewis November 9 The Appleton Picture Show. Bring your own photos for show and tell!

2 Upcoming Special Events August 21 2pm - Riverside Cemetery Walk, Pioneer Appleton Residents December :30 History Fair at the Indoor Farmer s Market, City Center Plaza APPLETON HISTORICAL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION: AHS Officers: A. President - Thomas Sutter B. Vice President - Gwen Sargeant C. Secretary James Richter D. Treasurer Laura Leimer AHS Board of Directors: A. Terms through November 2017: 1. Mark Moderson 2. John Marx 3. Laura Leimer 4. Diana Sandberg B. Terms through November 2016: 1. Linda Muldoon 2. Jim Krueger 3. Gwen Sargeant 4. Brian Schneider C. Terms through November 2018: 1. Tom Sutter 2. Christine Williams 3. James Richter Committee Chairs for the organization are as follows: A. Mark and Karen Moderson, Principal Organizers B. Brian Schneider, Technical Resources C. David Buss and Diana Sandberg, Research Specialists D. Gwen Sargeant, Public Relations and Web Page E. Christine Williams, Monthly Programs F. Gwen Sargeant, Publications PRESIDENT SUTTER ANNOUNCEMENTS: A. Introduced Officers and Board Members. B. Thanks to the Post Crescent for it s announcement of tonight s meeting and all of it s support. C. We express our deepest appreciation to St. Bernadette s Catholic Church for the use of their School Building located on Lourdes Drive on Appleton s south side.

3 D. We would like to announce that St. Bernadette s Parish is hosting their annual rummage sale on July We encourage you all to attend. E. Sales of our book Images of America-Appleton continue to go well. Books are available at the registration table for $22.00 a copy. F. Gave a report on next year s monthly programs and special events. G. Reports that our Program Committee is looking for program ideas for 2017 programs. H. Sutter urged members to renew their memberships as soon as possible, we are up to 83 paid memberships for the year so far. I. The door prize of a $10 Taco John s Gift Certificate was won by Dawn Killian. J. Thanks to Jamie Lafreniere. FVSO Executive Director, and Janet Sutter for last month s program on the History of the Fox Valley Symphony. K. Gave us an update on outreach the Appleton Historical Society is doing: 1. Tom and Steve Liebzeit just did a program at the Heritage Retirement Community. 2. Peter Theyel did a program out in the community. 3. Mark Moderson and John Marx are doing a table at a Time Warner Cable event. 4. John and Linda Marx again will be doing a table once a month at the Appleton Downtown Farm Market. 5. Congratulations to the Neenah Historical Society for winning a $50, award from the Wisconsin Historical Society for the Civil War Display. PROGRAM : The Hidden Churches of Appleton Presenter: Angie Knutson Speaker s Background: Angie was born and raised in Fond du Lac and took an early historic interest in her home town. She moved to Appleton in 1981 and is presently a fitness instructor with the YMCA. As a part of her duties she does walking tours of houses in Appleton. It was on one of those walks that she got the idea of researching forgotten churches in Appleton.

4 The Program: Angie found she was fascinated by the design and history of Appleton s churches. She was especially interested in Appleton s Hidden Churches, four of which she will be talking about tonight. After extensive research of the Appleton Public Library and other area source she put together this presentation. She has chosen to focus on basically four churches: (1) The Church at the Corner of Superior and Hancock Streets: In 1898 this opened as Appleton s fifth church. This was one of several churches that sported a huge membership of German families. This and many other churches in the area offered services in the German language. With the advent of the first World War most churches were pressured into Americanizing and offering services in English. As this evolved, by 1940 the German Methodist Church ceased to exist. Other German Methodist Churches were built the same way as this one with the turret in the corner. The foundation of the building is field stone. The exterior of the building is uniquely constructed of metal brick. Since the Methodist Church left the building has been used by many different churches and organizations. At one time it housed the American Legion Club. (2) The First Congregational Church: Has served Appleton from 1850 to the present. Worship services were held in several sites before a permanent home was built. Construction of the "Little Brown Church" began in February of 1852 on a lot donated by Amos A. Lawrence on the West side of Oneida Street. Members of the Society went miles into the forest surrounding the village to cut timber for the all wood building. On May 29,1853 the first service was held in the still uncompleted building. The 36 x 45-

5 foot structure, built at a total cost of $2,000, was formally dedicated on January 12, 1854, the first church building completed in the village. The building was lit by candles and heated by stoves. A melodeon provided the music until it was replaced by a reed organ, and finally, in 1869, a pipe organ. When the members went to install a bell they found out it was too big for a tower, so they put it on a platform of wood. This original church was the first church constructed in Appleton. The site was near the old YMCA and current Trinity Lutheran Church. Frederick Packard was one of the first benefactors. In the mid-1880 s it became clear that the "Little Brown Church," despite several expansions, was no longer adequate for the needs of the congregation. A lot on the southwest corner of Lawrence and Pearl (Oneida) Streets was purchased. Construction of a new building, largely faced with red sandstone from Lake Superior, began in 1888 and was completed the following year at a cost of $37,000. By the turn of the century, First Congregational had become the largest Congregational Church in the state and was known nationally for its programs in mission, education and sacred music. The church operated nine Sunday Schools, two of them housed in permanent chapels built by the congregation in "parts of the city remote from the church." The Fourth Ward Chapel stood on the corner of Jefferson and Fremont Streets, while the other Chapel still stands today on the northwest corner of Richmond and Winnebago Streets. An active Sunday Evening Men's Club became a national model for similar organizations, and the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor traveled to conventions as far away as Boston and New York. The pews of the new red brick church were made stadium style. These very pews are still in possession of the present church. The church had two fireplaces. It was also equipped with stained glass windows, that required repairs many years later by a rotating scaffolding. This church was torn down in 1957 due to the construction of the Oneida Skyline Bridge. A site of more than four acres was purchased on the south side of the river and, after a thorough study of the present and future needs of both the congregation and community, the present edifice was constructed. On, October 27, 1968, the congregation began its worship service in the Old Red Church and finished in the new. The current building, a striking reinterpretation of the traditional Congregational "Meeting House," serves not as a center for the active life of the congregation, but for a host of community activities as well. The present congregation of 1400 members seeks to build on the foundation of its proud heritage. (Thanks to the 1 st Congregational Church Web Page for clarification). (3) The Church at the corner of East Winnebago and North Richmond Street: The First Congregational Church made a Chapel at the northwest corner of Richmond and Winnebago Streets as a branch of their main church. Later the building became a Seventh Day Adventist Church. Currently it is rented to Victory Baptist Church. Ken Griesbach, the current pastor, gave her a tour of the facilities. The building has been added on to over the years, but the front looks like it always has. (4) Temple Zion, 320 N. Durkee Street:

6 Completed in 1884, the former Temple Zion is now home to Wahl Organbuilders. Houdini's father, Mayer Samuel Weiss, was brought to Appleton as the city's first rabbi and the Temple Zion was to be his synagogue. He was dismissed before it was opened because he preached in German in a time that English was becoming prevalent. The German craftsman style building served as a synagogue until Later it served as home to the Outagamie County Historical Society. Angie concluded by saying how much she enjoyed researching these grand old churches. She hopes to continue her research in the future. Respectfully, James L. Richter AHS Secretary, 7/5/16 Back

2631 N. MEADE STREET, SUITE 101, APPLETON, WI (920) Back

2631 N. MEADE STREET, SUITE 101, APPLETON, WI 54911 (920) 540-3699 www.appletonhistory.org Back MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, April 13, 2016 St. Bernadette s Catholic School PROGRAM SUMMARY The Surley Surveyor