Talk:First Baptist Church of Boulder

Doncram's notes

Date added: April 14, 2004 Architect: Martin, Orr and Martin or is it Martin and Orr and Martin or is it Martin, Orr? Architecture: Late Gothic Revival

FloridaArmy (talk) 18:42, 7 November 2023 (UTC)

From NRHP doc

"the church has seen minimal alterations since its construction in 1925-1926. Fine craftsmanship is evident in the details found on the hardware, art glass windows, fireplaces, and woodwork throughout the building, all of which have remained intact over its 79 years in existence. The building retains integrity of location, setting, materials, workmanship, design, feeling and association. The picturesque effect associated with the Late Gothic Revival style is evident in the materials used and the craftsmanship exhibited. According to the book How to Complete the Ohio Historic Inventory, "...Late Gothic Revival is simpler...". The use of ornament on the church is present but restrained, indicating a more serene, modern sensibility. The book also states that"... most Late Gothic Revival buildings use brick or smooth ashlar stone wall surfaces accented by large lancet windows with stone tracery". Though pre-cast concrete was employed rather than the often-used terra cotta, the tracery on the lancet (also pointed-arch or Gothic) windows still stands out with its quatrefoil design and contrasting materials. The common elements listed in the Ohio book are all found on the First Church of Boulder: buttresses, pointed stained glass windows, quatrefoils, and handcrafted materials and hardware. Decoration and quatrefoils occur most frequently above doorways and on the tower. This level of artistry and craftsmanship is extended to interior woodwork, doors, stairs, hardware, and handsome detailing around the fireplaces. The door hardware is exquisite with its pointed arch motif, mimicking the pointed arches found throughout the building. Though the large pointed arch window on the south wall has been covered on the interior, it remains intact underneath the drywall and is still visible on the exterior.Martin, Orr and Martin, Columbus, Ohio architects in practice together from 1924-1927, designed the building in the Late Gothic Revival style, utilizing all of the typical elements of this popular early 20th century style. Not much is known about the firm, though the Colonial Revival United Presbyterian Church they designed in Worthington, Ohio is listed on the National Register. Also unknown is how they received a commission for a church in Boulder, Colorado. No records have been found to offer any clue to this mystery. By 1927, Ralph R. Orr left the firm and the Martins continued to practice together from 1927-1937.First Baptist Church is within what has been referred to as the "Church District" of downtown Boulder and is adjacent to the Downtown and Mapleton Hill Historic Districts. Situated in the same city block are the First Church of Christ Scientist (1926-1931) to the north and Trinity Lutheran Church (1929) to the east. Other churches cited in the Boulder Valley Context Report that are within a two block radius, include: First Congregational Church (1866-1870) at 1128 Pine Street, St. John's Episcopal Church (1903-1905) at 1419 Pine Street, and Sacred Heart of Jesus (1963) at 2312 14th Street. The original First Baptist Church building a few blocks away, at 16th & Spruce Streets, was demolished in 1993, leaving this building as the only tangible link to the congregation's early start in Boulder." I removed this extensive quote from the entry. FloridaArmy (talk) 23:08, 7 November 2023 (UTC)