First Baptist Church (Osceola, Wisconsin)

First Baptist Church was designed by Harry Wild Jones and was built in 1910. It served as a church until 2006. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008 for its architectural significance.[1]

First Baptist Church
First Baptist Church
Location201 3rd Ave.
Osceola, Wisconsin
Coordinates45°19′18″N 92°42′18″W / 45.32179°N 92.70504°W / 45.32179; -92.70504
Built1910
ArchitectHarry Wild Jones
Architectural styleGothic Revival
NRHP reference No.08000201
Added to NRHPMarch 12, 2008[1]

It is described as "Gothic Revival inspired" and as "Craftsman influenced". It is a one-story church on a 40 by 78 feet (12 m × 24 m) plan, with a square bell tower over its main entrance, and with an unusual polygonal rotunda at its west end. The rotunda area provided space for six separable classroom spaces, consistent with Akron Plan design.[2]

This original site of First Baptist Church of Osceola is now owned and operated by River Group Financial, who made significant renovations to the building in the Summer of 2017.

The church, formerly named First Baptist Church of Osceola, moved to a new location in Osceola and changed its name to Grace Church. Grace Church owns and operates a childcare business out of their new building named Above All Beginnings Childcare. Due to the nature of the business operating daily in their building on Hwy. M (722 Seminole Ave, Osceola, WI), their pastor's office is located off-site. The office of the pastor of Grace Church is located in the basement of the original First Baptist Church. River Group Financial owns and leases office space in their newly remodeled building. One other business (Coffee Bark) also rents office space in the River Group Financial building.

References

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  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ Eric J. Wheeler (June 2007). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: First Baptist Church". National Park Service. Retrieved April 29, 2017. With 10 photos from 2006 (see photo descriptions page 22 of text document).