Description: |
Drawing of the First Baptist Church by Juliet A. Peddle, Terre Haute Architect and Artist. First Baptist Church, Organized in 1836. Drawing by Juliet B. Peddle, Terre Haute artist and architect.The First BAPTIST CHURCH in Terre Haute was organized in 1836 at a meeting held in the old brick school house and consisted of nine members. For 11 years the congregation met where hall space was available and grew in members and strength until they were able to build a church of their own.A site on the west side of Fourth Street between Mulberry and Eagle was selected and they started construction in 1847. The church was not finished, however, until three years later, in 1850. In 1861 ill fortune in the shape of a tornado visited them and destroyed the building and, with the uncertainty of war conditions, it was felt inadvisable to rebuild immediately.By the time the congregation felt they could rebuild, they decided that the old location was no longer so suitable as it was at first, and they purchased a site at the northwest corner of Sixth and Cherry streets. Until 1877 they worshipped in a chapel at the rear of this property, but in that year a new church was started which was occupied until 1914 when the present church was begun.The above illustration is based on a drawing in the border of an old map of Terre Haute dated 1854. This map has illustrations of a number ot the more important public buildings and churches of the day tucked into its unused corners and, looking them over, it is interesting to note how different their architectural character is from that of today. One would hardly suspect it was our Terre Haute as none of these particular buildings survives to our time. The Baptist church, like most of the others, is quite Greek Revival in character. It is difficult to tell from the old drawings of the buildings whether they were constructed of brick or frame. I suspect there were some of both. The brick ones were probably of our local red brick with white cornices and trim and those of frame were probably painted white. I am sure they were an interesting architectural contribution to the community of their day. |
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Origin: | 01/01/2005 |
Contributor(s): |
Peddle, Juliet, 1899-1979 |
Source: |
http://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/rose/id/817 |
Collection: |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Logan Library |
Rights: | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/ |
Copyright: |
Copyright Undetermined |
Subjects: |
Architectural drawings Architecture Churches Baptist churches Architecture Religion |
Further information on this record can be found at its source.