Platial | Who and What's Nearby
Platial | Who and What's Nearby
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Photos as it appears today, in the 1950s, and circa 1900. Note the difference in the bell tower -- see below for details on why the change.
In June 1871, the Episcopal Methodists purchased this land, and erected a small wooden church on it to serve their congregation. By the mid 1890s they had outgrown this facility, and the church trustees voted to construct a new, larger building on the site. In 1896, the old wooden church was sold for $120, and moved on long poles to its current location just north of the Railroad tracks on S Cedar Street (q.v.), where it was remodeled for use as a commercial building, and later as a residential structure, which is how it is still used today.
During the year between moving the old church and dedication of the new, services were held at the local Opera House on Grand River next to the Town Hall. The new stone church was dedicated in October 1897, and cost the congregation $8,252.37 plus an estimated $1,000 in donated work, field stone and other materials, which was paid in full in August of 1899. The new structure had several interesting architectural features, including leaded glass windows (which are preserved and still visible today) designed by WA Rossback of the Jackson Glass Works using glass from Chicago, as well as a 500 pound bell originally purchased for the old church, but which was hung in an ornate bell tower, and extensive decorative stenciling on the walls.
Interestingly, the field stone came from the surrounding farmland and was gathered in large part through a 'great stone bee' organized by the congregation as a cost-saving measure, and embraced by the local farmers as a way to rid themselves of pesky large rocks they kept having to deal with when plowing fields.
The history of the building has not, however, been all ‘rosy’. For example, in the early 1900s, probably between 1910 and 1920, a fire charred the chancel, and in June 1919, lightening struck the steeple. During this time, leaks in the roof were frequent, and by the late 1920s the condition of the tower was questioned, however, at least one trustee disclaimed there was any need to be concerned, as “this tower will still be standing long after we are all dead and buried!” Unfortunately, by 1946 almost one quarter of the tower had to be removed as it was judged a menace to the community and was condemned. Repairs of the rotting roof timbers and the removal of the top of the tower was “a needless expense” according to the pastor in the 1940s citing 20 years of neglect when the need for repairs was first pointed out to the trustees.
Fortunately, this lesson was learned, and the building was maintained somewhat better in the interim. Ongoing repairs and renovations were made in the 1940s-1960s, at which time an addition for the Education building and fellowship hall were constructed. Maintenance of the building continued however, with the addition of acrylic shields to protect the original leaded glass, and re-pointing and re-roofing of the structure being accomplished in the 1970s - 1990s.
Some 100 years after construction was finished, in 1998, there were extensive interior restoration, including removing layers of paint, and restoring the original stencil work on the interior of the sanctuary, as well as more mundane work such as structural renovation, and the addition of a handicap access ramp. The cost to renovate the $9,250 structure was in excess of $140,000 in 1999 dollars, but the efforts were worth it from the perspective of anyone interested in the architectural integrity of the site.
And in the Spring of 2007, as a 'crowning touch' a historical marker was placed and dedicated acknowledging the place of the building and the congregation in the life of Williamston. This is the last marker approved for placement by a religious structure before the State of Michigan changed its rules and said 'no more churches with historical markers'.
Although the classic tower is gone, the remainder of the church as fared pretty well in this age of ‘tear it down and build a new one’ mentality, and as a side benefit, if you know where to look you can even still see the old wooden church too. If you go on Sunday be sure to stop in for the services so you can admire the sanctuary -- I will wager you’ll get an invitation to coffee after the service if you don’t rush off!
Photos as it appears today, in the 1950s, and circa 1900. Note the difference in the bell tower -- see below for details on why the change.
In June 1871, the Episcopal Methodists purchased this land, and erected a small wooden church on it to serve their congregation. By the mid 1890s they had outgrown this facility, and the church trustees voted to construct a new, larger building on the site. In 1896, the old wooden church was sold for $120, and moved on long poles to its current location just north of the Railroad tracks on S Cedar Street (q.v.), where it was remodeled for use as a commercial building, and later as a residential structure, which is how it is still used today.
During the year between moving the old church and dedication of the new, services were held at the local Opera House on Grand River next to the Town Hall. The new stone church was dedicated in October 1897, and cost the congregation $8,252.37 plus an estimated $1,000 in donated work, field stone and other materials, which was paid in full in August of 1899. The new structure had several interesting architectural features, including leaded glass windows (which are preserved and still visible today) designed by WA Rossback of the Jackson Glass Works using glass from Chicago, as well as a 500 pound bell originally purchased for the old church, but which was hung in an ornate bell tower, and extensive decorative stenciling on the walls.
Interestingly, the field stone came from the surrounding farmland and was gathered in large part through a 'great stone bee' organized by the congregation as a cost-saving measure, and embraced by the local farmers as a way to rid themselves of pesky large rocks they kept having to deal with when plowing fields.
The history of the building has not, however, been all ‘rosy’. For example, in the early 1900s, probably between 1910 and 1920, a fire charred the chancel, and in June 1919, lightening struck the steeple. During this time, leaks in the roof were frequent, and by the late 1920s the condition of the tower was questioned, however, at least one trustee disclaimed there was any need to be concerned, as “this tower will still be standing long after we are all dead and buried!” Unfortunately, by 1946 almost one quarter of the tower had to be removed as it was judged a menace to the community and was condemned. Repairs of the rotting roof timbers and the removal of the top of the tower was “a needless expense” according to the pastor in the 1940s citing 20 years of neglect when the need for repairs was first pointed out to the trustees.
Fortunately, this lesson was learned, and the building was maintained somewhat better in the interim. Ongoing repairs and renovations were made in the 1940s-1960s, at which time an addition for the Education building and fellowship hall were constructed. Maintenance of the building continued however, with the addition of acrylic shields to protect the original leaded glass, and re-pointing and re-roofing of the structure being accomplished in the 1970s - 1990s.
Some 100 years after construction was finished, in 1998, there were extensive interior restoration, including removing layers of paint, and restoring the original stencil work on the interior of the sanctuary, as well as more mundane work such as structural renovation, and the addition of a handicap access ramp. The cost to renovate the $9,250 structure was in excess of $140,000 in 1999 dollars, but the efforts were worth it from the perspective of anyone interested in the architectural integrity of the site.
And in the Spring of 2007, as a 'crowning touch' a historical marker was placed and dedicated acknowledging the place of the building and the congregation in the life of Williamston. This is the last marker approved for placement by a religious structure before the State of Michigan changed its rules and said 'no more churches with historical markers'.
Although the classic tower is gone, the remainder of the church as fared pretty well in this age of ‘tear it down and build a new one’ mentality, and as a side benefit, if you know where to look you can even still see the old wooden church too. If you go on Sunday be sure to stop in for the services so you can admire the sanctuary -- I will wager you’ll get an invitation to coffee after the service if you don’t rush off!
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