Universalist Church (Mitchellville, Iowa)

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Universalist Church
Mitchellville Iowa 20100328 Universalist Church.JPG
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Location420 4th St.
Mitchellville, Iowa
Coordinates 41°40′16″N93°21′41″W / 41.67111°N 93.36139°W / 41.67111; -93.36139 Coordinates: 41°40′16″N93°21′41″W / 41.67111°N 93.36139°W / 41.67111; -93.36139
Built1868
Architectural styleMid 19th Century Revival
NRHP reference No. 05000253 [1]
Added to NRHPSeptember 6, 2005

The Universalist Church is a historic building located in Mitchellville, Iowa, United States. The congregation was organized in 1868 with a membership of thirty-five people. The first officers were: Thomas Mitchell, Moderator; Barlard Slate, Clerk; and Tillie Mitchell, Treasurer. The deacons were W.S. Jones, A. Rothrock and Pauline Weeks. Pastors included: W.W. King, T.C. Eaton, J.R. Sage, A. Vedder and F.W. Gillette. The church building was erected at a cost of $2,000. [2]

Built in 1868, it is the oldest documented building in Mitchellville. It is considered an "outstanding example of an early church design based on examples found in small New England towns." [3] The building also served the town as its first school building. After the congregation disbanded they sold their property to the state of Iowa to use for weddings, funerals, and appropriate functions. [4] The church building, along with two outhouses on the property, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. The History of Polk County, Iowa. Des Moines: Union Historical Company. 1880. p.  632 . Retrieved 2010-12-06. universalist church mitchellville, iowa.
  3. Elizabeth Foster Hill. "Universalist Church". National Park Service . Retrieved 2017-09-17. with photos
  4. Harry E. Downer. "Universalists on the Prairie". Prairie State District, Unitarian Universalist Association. Retrieved 2010-12-06.