Congregational Church

Archive

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Saugatuck Douglas Historical Society

LO05

LO05

Name/Title

Congregational Church

Entry/Object ID

2021.87.11

Scope and Content

The Local Observer newspaper Remembering When - Our History article titled "Remembering the Congregational Church" LO05 Feb. 16, 2005. Written by Jack Sheridan and Jim Schmiechen. Digital files use to create this article and associated resources at 2021.72.02

Context

REMEMBERING THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH In 1860 Saugatuck was beginning to feel its oats. The Civil War was yet beyond horizon and the lumber and shipbuilding industries were growing--the area’s future was bright. There were plenty of saloons for a village of 300, but not a church. On January 11, 1861 a group of townspeople met at the Pine Grove School to remedy the situation. Being in the majority, settlers from New England had a strong voice and the Congregational church got a collective nod. In fact there happened to be a minister in town—the Reverend C. H. Eaton—who had come here with the idea of a frontier church in mind. Eaton lost no time organizing the first congregation which consisted of sixteen members. Among the members willing to finance the church construction was Frank B. Wallin, Dingleville tannery owner. Building began in the spring on land donated by Henry Brueckman who was the foreman of the Wallin tannery. Bruekman donated half of his lot which was on Hoffman St. between Butler and Griffith. On this fine site was built Saugatuck’s first church. The church atop the Hoffman Street hill (top) and the Bruekman home at the bottom are visible in the enlargement from the 1874 panorama. Both structures are still here today. The church has undergone three major expansions in 164 years. The original structure (bottom right) was outgrown in 35 years. The expanded 1896 version (bottom left) was again expanded and renovated in the 1960s.

Collection

Remembering When

Cataloged By

Winthers, Sally

Acquisition

Accession

2021.87

Source or Donor

Sheridan, John "Jack" O. 1938-

Acquisition Method

Donation

Location

* Untyped Location

Digital data in CatalogIt

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Sheridan, John "Jack" O. 1938-, Schmiechen, James A., 246 Mary/Fursman House/Pine Grove School 1855-, Wallin, Franklin Bogue 1832-1908, Brueckman, Henry, First Congregational Church Saugatuck, Eaton, C.H. Reverend

Related Publications

Publication

Local Observer

General Notes

Note

Status: OK Status By: Mary Voss Status Date: 2016-08-08

Create Date

November 28, 2021

Update Date

March 7, 2024