Name/Title
The First Reformed Church of WaupunScope and Content
Historical information on First Reformed Church of Waupun for 1976 Bicentennial Celebration in Waupun, WI
*NOTE: Spelling errors are left just as originally typed and hand written.
THE FIRST REFORMED CHURCH OF WAUPUN - 1887 - 1975
ITS ORIGIN AND PHENOMENAL GROWTH:
The First Reformed Church, a "daughter" of the Alto Reformed congregation, has itself mothered two churches in the 88 years of its existence -- Emmanuel Reformed Church in 1937, and Trinity Reformed Church in 1955 -- a testament to its vigorous spiritual growth and influence.
Several families who were members of the Alto congregation in the 1880's lived in and near Waupun and although the mother church tried to minister to these people of similar faith, the distance between them proved too great for those times. Early in 187S7 possibilities for the establishment of a church in Waupun were explored under the guidance of Rev. J. TeWinkel and Elder Henry Straks of Alto. Subsequently the Waupun group secured the assistance of a theological student from Hope College, George Bloemendaal, as a summer student missionary. It was soon evident that a church in Waupun would be successful and a request was made to the Board of Domestic Missions that Rev. P. Ihrman be sent as a Classical Missionary. Rev. Ihrman began his pastorate on Aug. 19, 1887, without a church building or parsonage. Services were held in the Disciple Church which then stood on the southwest corner of Mill and East Franklin streets. This building later became an annex of the Caldwell-Loomans Lumber Company on Main Street. In September 1887 a formal petition was submitted to the Classis of Wisconsin for organization of a congregation, and upon securing permission a meeting to organize the First Reformed Church of Waupun was held Oct. 24, 1887 in the Free Will Baptist Church which then stood on the present site of Waupun City Hall. There were 44 charter members at the meeting, twenty of whom came by transfer of membership from Alto, and 24 on confession of faith.
They were:
Mr. & Mrs. Henry Straks
Mr. & Mrs. C. Duven
Mr. & Mrs. C. Gerretson
Mrs. J. A. Schuppert
Mr. & Mrs. Herman Schuppert
Mr. & Mrs. J. A. Kastein
Mr. & Mrs. Henry Hartgerink
Mr. & Mrs. Wm. Gerrits
Mr. & Mrs. Henry Mulder
Mr. & Mrs. John Gerretson
Mr. & Mrs. D. Gysbers
Mr. & Mrs. G. Gysbers
Mr. & Mrs. Wm. Loomans
Mr. & Mrs. C. Landaal
Miss Cora Gerretson (TeLinde)
Mr. & Mrs. D. Gerretson
Mr. Jacob Gerretson
Mrs. R. Van Essen
Mrs. L. Wensink
Mr. Wm. Neevel
Miss Minnie Neevel (Ploughman)
Mr. A. Beewkes
Mr. N. Hollendyke
Mr. John Meenk
Miss Mary Duenk
Miss Jennie Newhouse
Miss Nellie Newhouse (Gysbers)
Miss Eliza TerBeest
Miss Eva Hartgerink
Miss Katy Hartgerink (Neevel)
A parsonage with a large adjoining lot on South Drummond and East Brown streets was purchased from a Dr. Kutcheon in 1888, and a simple lit attractive building was erected and completed in 1889, with help from the Alto congregation, and this building served the congregation for 35 years with two improvement and enlargement projects, the first in 1908 when a basement was dug and the sanctuary extended eight feet. The dilapidated parsonage was razed and a new one built on the site in 1906. (This residence, now converted into two apartments, stands at present facing South Forest Street.)
By 1922 the church had far outgrown its capacity and an extensive enlargement and modernization project was undertaken. At that time, with John Gysbers as contractor, the building was cut in mid-section and a large central addition erected between the parts. While the rebuilding was in progress, services were held in the hall above the Waupun Produce Company, now housing Riel's Floor Covering and Ken's Feed Mill. Within ten years it was again obvious that the church was too small. Although division of the congregation was suggested, it was decided instead to install a public address system in the basement to accommodate the overflow. This less-than-perfect arrangement endured until 1937, at which time 33 families left to become the first daughter church, Emmanuel Reformed Church of Waupun. During these 50 years between 1887 and 1937, the congregation had grown from 20 families to 371 families (820 communicants), a phenomenal growth. Pressures were somewhat relieved for a time, but by 1954 it again became evident that facilities were inadequate and a volunteer group of 70 families left to establish the Trinity Reformed Church the following year.
In that year also, First Church decided that a more commodious building in a quieter, cleaner neighborhood with better parking facilities was a necessity, and alter much consideration purchased from Miss Anna Skala the present site on West Franklin Street in 1956. A brewery, long unused and deteriorated, stood on the site. Because of a special arrangement with Miss Skala, work did not begin until 1961. Provision for adequate room for future growth was a foremost consideration in planning the new edifice. Ground breaking ceremonies were held July 24, 1961 and the building completed and dedicated on June 16, 1963. The beautiful Verlinden pipe organ which had been purchased in the late 1940's was removed from the old church and reconstructed in the new one. A little more than twelve years later, at the end of 1974, all the facilities are again in use, serving 352 families and 647 communicant members.
An excerpt from the dedication program best describes the building: "The First Reformed Church is perhaps different from any other church in the world. Its simple monumental structure is expressive of the Reformed Church faith that has stood firm through the ages. The narrow vertical stained glass windows between the ribs of the light brown masonry symbolize and emphasize the loftiness of the church and the ideals for which it stands. Into the brick piers a story of the cross is inscribed. The folded plate ceiling suggests the spacious firmament. The nave will seat 672 persons and the large narthex, the adjoining chapel, balcony and choir loft can increase the capacity to seat 1000. The sloping floor, the folded ceiling, the narrow windows, the lighting, and the choir arrangement all converge through the dark stained cross to center upon the means of grace symbolized in the pulpit with the large open Bible, the sixteen foot communion table and the baptism font.
There are twenty individual class rooms on the lower floor and the use of the balcony and other rooms on the upper floor will increase the number to 26. The Fellowship Hall is on ground level. It will accommodate 500 at tables or 700 seated without tables."
A dream became a reality.
THE CHURCH'S SERVANTS, ITS PROGRAMS AND OUTREACH:
In its 88 years, First Church has been blessed with a succession of earnest, inspired and dedicated pastors;
Rev. P. Ihrman 1887-1891
Rev. J. Muelendyke 1892-1902
Rev. A. DeYoung 1903-1910
Rev. J. J. Hollebrands 1910-1918
Rev. W. C. Walvoord 1918-1925
Rev. J. S. Ter Louw 1925-1933
Rev. A. Karreman 1933-1937
Rev. E. H. Tanis 1937-1944
Rev. A. Van Harn 1945-1951
Rev. Wm. Rosenberg 1952-1966
Rev. Frederic Dolfin 1967-1971
Rev. Donald Boss 1971-
In 1972, Rev. Arnold Dykhuizen, an assistant to the pastor, was engaged in order to meet the growing needs of so large and active a church.
From its very beginning the church sought to engage all members in its activities. In its first two years a Sunday School, a Christian Endeavor Society, catechism classes for all ages were begun, and a Ladies' Aid Society organized. The Women's Mission Society, an outgrowth of the Ladies' Aid, was organized in 1910 which devoted its efforts exclusively to support of domestic and foreign mission projects. An adjunct to the Mission Society for some years was the "Bidt en Werk" group of older women. In 1933, Mrs. Karreman was instrumental in the formation of the Helping Hand Society, a group composed mainly of young married women also devoted to mission work, and a Girls' League for Service. In recent years these fragmented groups have been coordinated into the Guild for Reformed Church Women, under the sponsorship of the central offices of the Reformed Church in America. Similarly, the youth work has been unified under the Reformed Church Youth Fellowship (R.C.Y.F.) which prepares young people for future church service.
As soon as the congregation was self-supporting, its outreach began with units of support for domestic and foreign missionaries -- ministers, teachers, doctors, nurses -- in such diverse areas as Gray Hawk and Annville, Kentucky; Brewton, Alabama; India; Basra, Iraq; Bahrain; Saudi Arabia; mission stations for newly arrived emigrants in Canada; among the Indians in New Mexico and in Chiapas, Mexico. Additionally, the Sunday School makes an individual and substantial contribution to North American Missions annually. The church budgets support for its colleges -- Hope, Central, Northwestern and Western Seminary; for church expansion, for world-wide radio ministry, for inner-city work. Young people are encouraged to take part in the summer camp program.
Two evenings of the week are "meeting nights": Monday evenings the Youth Choir, catechism classes for all high school students, and R.C.Y.F. meetings are scheduled. Wednesday evening has been designated "Family Night" with a prayer meeting, Junior and Senior Choir practice, and a Bible Study group. Several small Bible study groups meet in private homes monthly.
First Reformed Church is proud of its "children" who, over the years, have entered into service for the church: Henry Straks, John Straks, M. Duven, Alvin Neevel, Albertus Bossenbroek, Franklin Hinkamp, Henry Van Deelen, Donald Buteyn, Victor Ebert, Gordon Damsteegt, Don Damsteegt, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Van Galen (Joyce Leisten); Katherine Kastein, who was a pioneer in the work in Kentucky until 1918, where Rhoda Hull Vande Zande also served; Mrs. Winfred Hunt (Minnie Vande Zande), who with her husband did evangelical and social work in the South; and the children of our former pastors, once part of our fold -- Christian Walvoord, John W. TerLouw, Paul Tanis and Marilyn Tanis. Currently we have young people from First Church and her daughter churches either already in service or preparing for future full time dedication. With God's grace and favor First Reformed Church will continue to extend its influence in an ever widening sphere.
*Handwritten Note:
I question using this last paragraph. It's so easy to forget someone & that can leave hurt feelings.
Donald Boss - PastorAcquisition
Accession
2016.0075Source or Donor
Waupun Area Chamber of CommerceAcquisition Method
Donation
