USA > Illinois > McLean County > Normal > History of Bloomington and Normal, in McLean County, Illinois > Part 8
USA > Illinois > McLean County > Bloomington > History of Bloomington and Normal, in McLean County, Illinois > Part 8
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The first estimate of the Board to the City Council called for $10,000, with which to erect a new school-building, and $2,000 in addition to the general school fund to defray the expenses of maintaining the schools of the city. As a result of the request for this estimate, the following communication was sent to the Board by the Council :
Wumms, The Board of Education having made a report to this Conneil, demanding n levy of a five-mill tax for school purposes, and it being the opinion of this Council that said levy would be a bordensome and oppressive tax upon the people at the present time : therefore,
Resolved, That it is our bounden duty to respectfully decline an order for said levy.
As a result of this, the Board of Education employed Abraham Lincoln to take the necessary steps to procure from the Circuit Court a writ of mandamus to compel the Council to levy the tax as required of them by Section 8 of the School Law. The whole matter seems to have been amicably settled, however, by the Board presenting a memorial to the Council requesting them to reconsider the action.
In the year 1858, the first permanent school-building was completed. called for several years the High School Building. It is in the Fourth Ward, and its cost was a little over $6,000. It was thought to be a fine structure for the times, though enlarged considerably in 1570. The high school started in 1857, was taught for the first year in Wilkins Seminary, by J. A. Johnson, and it opened in the new building in 1858, taught by E. P. Clark. The next year, it was under the charge of H. M. Kellogg, who met his death in 1564 in one of the Vicksburg battles, at which time he was Captain of a company in the Thirty-third Regiment Illinois Volunteers. The progress of the high school has ever been onward and upward until the present time. It is now in a fine building erected in 1865, at a cost of over $30,000. The first graduating class consisted of two members in 1861, while that of 1577 contained over thirty. An net
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY
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of the Legislature, accepted by vote of the people in 1865, and another act passed in 1866, greatly strengthened the Board of Education, and increased the public interest.
The total enrollment of pupils in the public school in the year 1878 was 3,395. The number of children ascertained to be in the whole city in the year 1879, under the age of twenty-one years, was 7,187. Number of teachers in the public school, 63. Total disbursement for schools for the year ending April 1, 1879, was $65,314. The cost of the school-buildings, apparatus, furniture and grounds has been over $228,000, worth now, probably, a little more than the present outstanding school debt, which is in the neighborhood of $100,000. The present Board of Education consists of Jacob Jacoby, A. E. Stevenson, F. M. Funk, E. H. Rood, T. J. Bunn, J. H. Rowell and Miss Georgiana Trotter. Miss Sarah E. Raymond is Superintendent. The first Super- intendent was D. Wilkins, 1857 to 1859; in 1859, Gilbert Thayer; in 1860, Ira J. Bloomfield ; 1861, no superintendent ; 1862, C. P. Merriman ; 1863, J. H. Burnham ; 1864, John Monroe ; 1865 to 1867, John F. Gowdy ; 1867 and 1868, A. H. Thomp- son ; 1868 to 1872, S. M. Etter ; 1872 to 1874, S. D. Gaylord; 1874 to the present time, Miss Sarah E. Raymond.
Besides the large school edifices called respectively, First, Third, Fourth, Fifth Ward and the High School buildings, there are several of less value in different places, making in all provision for most of the children who need schooling. Bloomington expends a very large sum of money for public education, and it behooves her citizens to look well to the management of the ample fund annually disbursed. The city stands upon record as being one of the first in this State to admit a lady as a member of its Board of Education, Miss Georgiana Trotter having been elected four years ago. Miss Raymond, the efficient Superintendent of our city schools, was one of the first ladies in Illinois to fill such a position. Our churches, our public schools and our higher institutions of learning are all well worthy of the pride of our citizens.
CHURCHES THAT HAVE DISSOLVED.
There have been almost innumerable attempts made in Bloomington to establish churches and religious societies by the different sects represented in the United States. People have arrived here from all the regions under the sun, apparently, and, on their arrival, have commenced looking around for the religious denomination to which they were most attached. It would be, indeed, interesting could we furnish a full list of the different churches that have attempted to obtain a foot-hold. Even the Mormons have been represented, and at one time published a weekly newspaper here, printed at the Pantagraph office, edited by Mr. Haldeman, who has since moved to the State of Mis- souri. This journal was an organ of the Latter-Day Saints, or seet opposed to the Salt Lake Mormons. It is impossible to obtain a full history, even of those churches now in existence here, and we do not pretend to anything more than a mere outline or sketch, and shall be well satisfied if we have made a few footsteps that shall lead in the direc- tion we should like to travel. We will take a little space for mention of churches that have been formed and afterward given up their organizations, as these have had a share in the great work of Christianizing our community.
While the Presbyterian Church is the home of the large clement known as the Orthodox Congregationalists, there was a time when a flourishing church of that denomi- nation was in existence. As early as 1842, the Congregationalists had built a church
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at the northwest corner of Washington and Madison streets, and from that time to 1940, were quite powerful in the city. In 1858, they built a new church at the northeast corner West and Washington, which, under the pastoral care of Rev. I. Taylor, was very flour ishing. In the hard times following, they were unable to pay a mortgage on their property, and lost their house of worship, which was purchased in 1865 by the Episcopalians.
The Congregationalists again re-organized in 1873, worshiped in a public hall, but, after two years' trial, again gave up the undertaking.
For several years, the Reformed Presbyterians owned a church on Front street, where is now the residence of Mr. I. R. Krom; but, owing to the removal from the city of quite a large portion of their membership, and for other reasons, their organiza- tion disappeared over ten years ago.
The Universalists had a church-building on Front street, and kept up their society for several years, during which quite a number of our most prominent citizens were members of the organization. Rev. F. J. Briggs was the minister in charge for some time, and is still living in Bloomington. Many of its members went into the Free Congregational Church, and others have become connected with diferent churches or moved from the city.
For several years, the Methodists kept up an organized church called the West Charge. They had a pleasant house of worship at the southeast corner of Washington and West streets. After several years' trial, during a part of which time the Church was very flourishing, it was discovered that the interests of the denomination were best subserved by only one organization, and the building was sold, to be taken down and moved to New Rutland, on the Illinois Central Railroad.
In the year 1868, there was a church society that worshiped in Phoenix Hall, under the charge of Rev. Dr. Reed, a very excellent minister of the Southern Meth- odist Church ; but the project of erecting a building was abandoned.
The first Christian Church was erected on East street. in the rear of Major's Hall, and for a time after the present church was erected, there were two Christian Churches in the city, both of which appeared quite powerful. About the year 1863, however, the two became merged in the present church, and the old one was sold to the German Lutherans, and now stands at the corner of Madison and Olive streets.
Our sketch merely hints at a few of the attempts that have been made to organize different churches in Bloomington. In fact, we have no doubt these sectarian efforts could be numbered by scores, and, if all were hunted up and catalogued, a very interesting chapter would be the result. We have referred to a few in order to bring prominently before our readers the fact that strenuous efforts have been made to culti- vare the religious field. Of the good seed planted in the past, we are proud to record the evidences of the proper maturing of a fair proportion.
It is impossible to give even a tolerably correct sketch of the different churches of this city. In many cases the history of these institutions has not been preserved, and in others there have been such changes, suspensions, consolidations, divisions and removals that we despair of doing justice to the great subject. We give merely a few fragments, beseeching the charity and good-will of all who have ever attempted work of this character. The founders of Bloomington left no effort untried to affect favorably
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the morals and religion of this community. From their little means, needed so much for daily wants and improvements, they freely gave liberally toward building and sup- porting churches. They were inspired with zeal in the cause of the Master, were aided by the most active and self-denying ministry, and could see a promise of better days when the town should become more fully peopled with families of wealth and culture. Each denomination made great efforts for supremacy. All were equally active, and at this time we see the good results of the hard labors of the early Christians.
The pioneer of Christianity in this locality, was, of course, the Methodist Church. Mr. John Hendrix, who came to Blooming Grove in 1822, was a consistent, devoted Methodist, and for a long time his house was the preaching-place of the neighborhood. It appears he invited Rev. James Stringfield, who was visiting at Randolph Grove, from Kentucky, and this gentleman preached the first sermon in the limits of the town of Bloomington, in 1823, at Mr. Hendrix's cabin. Some think that Rev. Jesse Walker, the regular supply of the Peoria Circuit, should be entitled to the honor of preaching the first sermon, he having preached at Mr. Hendrix's house in 1824. Bloom- ing Grove was made a preaching-place, in Peoria Mission, as early as 1824, during which year, at the house of John Hendrix, the first Methodist class was formed, which contained about ten members. This class was the Methodist Church of Blooming Grove, for several years. In 1831, preaching was commenced in the then new village of Bloomington, at the schoolhouse at the corner of Olive and Main streets, where the marble-shop now stands. Rev. William Crissey preached here in November, having previously delivered at least one sermon in the limits of Bloomington, which was on the 9th of October, 1831. There appears to have been a class organized here in Bloom- ington about the close of 1831, and until the year 1837, Bloomington and Blooming Grove were two distinct charges, when, under Rev. S. W. D. Chase, they were united. The two charges united in building a church at the southeast corner of Olive and Main streets, in 1836, when a plain building, 32x44 feet was built, under the charge of Rev. Zadoc Hall. Methodism grew and prospered at this location, until the year 1851, when the brick church, corner of Washington and East streets, was finished. This was a very large church for the times. Thomas Williams was contractor. This was occupied by the denomination from that date until 1875. About 1870, it became apparent that this building was altogether inadequate for the accommodation of the rapidly-increasing con- gregation, and plans were made for the construction of the present church-building. On September 29, 1873, the corner-stone was laid with imposing ceremonies, under the direction of Bishop Wiley, of St. Louis. In October, 1875, the basement auditorium was completed, and appropriate dedication exercises were conducted by prominent minis- ters from this and other States, in the presence of an immense congregation. As an example of Methodist liberality, $9,000 were raised by subscription in less than two hours, at these exercises. This magnificent church-edifice, as it now stands, completed, is one of the beauties of Bloomington ; it is a model of architectural symmetry and beauty. The main auditorium is a spacious room, easy of access, with seating capacity for 1,250. It is handsomely decorated with appropriate designs. The basement auditorium is con- veniently arranged, neatly finished and has scating capacity for 700. In addition to these, there are classrooms and various other apartments for the accommodation of the communicants. The society has recently purchased and placed in position an immense organ. It is the largest in the State, outside of Chicago. The total valuation of the
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church building and lot was estimated, three years ago, at $55,000. The total member - ship is something over 500 Its present Pastor is Rev. Mr. Mellroy.
The University Methodist Church was organized October 7, 1567 It worships in the chapel of the University -a fine room, with capacity for suo, or with the gal- lery, which can be used if needed, an andiener of 1,500 can be accommodated There are about 250 church-members. Rev. J. A. Kumler is the Pastor in charge. This Church is a great convenience to the lay population in the north part of the city, espe- cially to the students of the college.
The German Methodist Church is well established; is situated on Center street. between North and Market. it was organized in 1951, by Dr. J. Schmidt, of Quincy. III It is one of the earliest of any of the German organizations of Bloomington. Res .J. H Thomas is Pastor, and there are 110 members.
The African Methodist Church is on North Center street. It was organized in 1817. by Rev. P. H. Ward, and contains 100 members. Its first church-edifice was built in 1915, and, in 1559, it was removed to the side of the lot and has since been used as a parsonage. A new church was built in that year, which was considerably enlarged in 1-71. Its cost was about $3,000. Rev. C. S. Jacobs is the Pastor in charge
The First Presbyterian Church was organized January 26, 1933, by the Rev. Cal- vin W. Babbett. Its house of worship was not created until about 1540, when the division between the Old and New Schools occurred. This Church was attached to the Old School, though it was not until 1855 that a New-School Church was formally organized.
The First Church has been the parent of Orthodox Congregationalism and Pres- byterianism in Bloomington. At least three different churches have sprung from this organization, though only one has become permanent. During the pistorate of the Rev. H. R. Price. an addition was made to the old building, and its seating capacity increased to about five hundred When the Old and New Schools were united a few years ago, the First Church took the title to which it was entitled by seniority. For many years, it was known as the Old-School Presbyterian Church of Bloomington, and was a pioneer in deed and in truth. The Rev. J. B. Thayer is the present Pastor of the First Church.
The First Church, as originally built, was quite small. In Is55, the rapid growth of the city made an opening for more churches, and on the FIth of January, 1855, the New-School or Second Presbyterian Church was organized, in Major's Hall, corner of Front and East streets. This hall was at that time in the third story, since removed, and was very large and pleasant. Rev. Alfred Eddy was the Pastor. Here, the con- gregation worshiped until about the time the building was used by the State Normal University, in the fall of 1957 In 1856, the Church commenced their new house of worship, which was finished in 1907. Its total cost has been over $20,000, including the recent addition, which has increased its seating capacity to 650. This Church has been very fortunate in its Pastors, having had but four different ministers in the course of the twenty-four years of its life. Originally of the New School, it has now become the Second Presbyterian. This Church possesses a very fair proportion of the educa- tion, talent and wealth of the city and may be called established Its present Pastor is the Rev. J. W. Dinsmore.
The Third Presbyterian, generally called the North Church, was organized April 26, 1875 Their house of worship is on Bast Locust street, near Main, and is a very
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comfortable and tasteful building. The value of church property, including buildings and grounds, is nearly $10,000. The membership is between seventy and one hundred.
The Baptist is one of the pioneer churches, having been organized in 1837. About this time, their first church-building was erected upon two lots donated by James Allin, at the northeast corner of North and West streets ; afterward, moved to Madison between Front and Grove, where the church used it several years. In 1857, the large building at the corner of Madison and Jefferson, now occupied by the society, was commenced, and so far completed as to be used in part in the year 1858. The old church on South Madison was sold to the German Turners, who now use it as a hall. The present mem- bership of the Baptist Church is about 550, and during its existence. over 1,600 persons have been members. The pastors of this church have taken a leading place in the his- tory of Bloomington, and one of them, Rev. H. J. Eddy, was Chaplain of the Thirty- third Regiment Illinois Volunteers. The membership has always been among our best inhabitants, and their zeal and devotion to the cause of their Master have been remark- able. At one time this Church maintained two mission Sabbath schools, one of which, the West Mission, has now developed into a German Baptist Church, with a settled pastor. It is located at 1,302 West Locust street. Rev. Henry Wernicke is the Pastor ; it contains thirty-three members. The South Mission is on Boone street, between Hardin and Fremont, and is sustained by the Baptist Church. The present Pastor of the Baptist Church is Rev. O. B. Stone. This Church assisted in the organization of Mount Pisgah Baptist Church (colored ), which was started in 1866. Its first Pastor was the Rev. Thomas Reasoner. Its place of worship is on South Lee street, where it pos- sesses a comfortable church, erected in 1869. Rev. Mr. Harrison is its present Pastor, and there are between ninety and one hundred members.
The Christian Church, comprising the followers of Alexander Campbell, with others of similar views, is also a pioneer, having been organized in 1839; and, like its prede- cessors, the Baptist and Presbyterian, was organized in the old Foster Seminary on East Olive street. Its first house of worship was built in the hard times of 1841, on East street, in the rear of Major's Block. William T. Major was its first Pastor. About the year 1856, the present Christian Church building. at the corner of West and Jefferson, was erected ; and, for a time, there were two vigorous Christian Churches existing in this city. Before the year 1864, the two churches were united; the old church was sold to the Lutherans ; removed by them to the corner of Olive and Madison ; and the united Christian Church has become one of the most powerful in the city. It is one of the leading churches of this denomination in the West. It is now under charge of Dr. A. I. Hobbs. Olive Mission, corner of South Grove and Vine streets, is in charge of this Church. Outside of the city there are two churches of this denomination. Grassy Ridge Christian Church, organized 1854, is near the south line of the township, under the charge of Rev. Mr. Berry, who also has the care of the church at Shirley. The Grassy Ridge Church has about seventy members. Blooming Grove Christian Church has a neat building, erected in 1873, at a cost of about $1.300. It is in the Cox and Oren- dorff neighborhood, the true historic center of Bloomington, at the east side of Blooming Grove. Its members number abont one hundred.
The Free Congregational Church was organized August 14, 1859. Among its first members we find the names of Jesse W. Fell. K. H. Fell, C. Wakefield, E. Bar- ber, Robert Thompson, W. Perry, F. K. Phoenix, HI. N. Pearse, Jesse Bishop, E.
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M. Prince, C. P. Merriman, John L. Routt, M. Pike, O. Barnard, Francis Barnard, William Rowley and others. These gentlemen were willing to unite in a declaration of views which committed the new society to the platform of Liberal Christianity. Though not strictly a Unitarian Church, it comes, perhaps, nearer to that denomination than any other. The church-building is owned by stockholders in rather a different manner from the method which is most common. Rev. Charles G. Ames, of Minne- apolis, Minn., was the first minister. He was a man of great force and power. He has been succeeded generally by able men. Probably about four hundred people attend this Church. The church-edifice was erected about the year 1866; it will seat nearlyfive hundred persons. Its present Pastor is the Rev. J. S. Thompson. St. Matthew's Episcopal Church was organized July 31, 1853. In 1857, a lot was purchased at the southeast corner of Prairie and Jefferson streets, and plans were adopted for a church, but the financial crisis of that year was the reason for abandoning the enterprise and the lot was sold. After worshiping in different halls, the parish purchased in 1865, the old Congregational Church, corner of West and Washington. In July, 1874, the Vestry purchased the lot at the northwest corner of Jefferson and Prairie streets, where, in the year 1876, the present fine structure was erected. The building will cost when completed, about $20,000. There are about one hundred and sixty communicants of the Church, and the congregation will number about four hun- dred. The church is large enough to seat about six hundred persons.
The German Lutheran (Trinity) Church is at the corner of Olive and Madison. About one hundred and twenty-five families-all of them among the most worthy and industrious of our citizens-attend upon the ministrations of the Pastor, Rev. E. Riedel. A day school has been connected with this Church much of the time since its organization in 1858.
The Swedish Lutheran Church is newly established, having erected its house of worship at 804 West Olive street, in the summer of 1877. Its Pastor is the Rev. P. J. Brodine. The regular membership is about eighty. The Church was organized December 8, 1872, with thirty-eight members. It joined the Augustan Synod in 1873.
The Roman Catholic Church was organized in 1855 by Father Bernard O'Hara It was called Holy Trinity-now the Church of the Immaculate Conception. At first it purchased and used the old M. E. Church, corner Olive and Main streets, but it very rapidly outgrew its accommodations.
In 1869, a new building was being erected at the site of the present cathedral, when a gust of wind, nearly equal to a tornado, leveled the structure to the earth. Its walls were up and the roof on, and the damage was over $20,000. Undaunted, the congregation persevered with the work on a much more expensive plan, and now have the satisfaction of worshiping in an elegant building, which, when finished, with its 208-feet-high spire and everything as designed by the architect, it will be one of the most beautiful ornaments of which Bloomington can boast.
The new cathedral is a magnificent picce of architecture, in the Romanesque style. Its dimensions are 213 feet in length and 80 feet in width. The estimated cost, when fully completed, is about $150,000. It will be one of the finest cathedrals in all Illi- nois. For several years back, the society has occupied the basement auditorium as a temporary place of worship, but, within the past year, the outer walls have been com- pleted and the roof placed in position, thus inclosing the main audience-room. This is
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a spacious apartment, 213 feet in length, 80 feet in width, and 52 from the floor to the ceiling. It is provided with a large octagonal chancel and two large galleries. It will have ample seating accommodation for 2,500 persons. Father McDermott is in charge of the Church. The total number of members of this Church, with their families, is not far from six thousand.
The German Catholic Church was built about the year 1871. It is situated on North Water street, which is in the southwest part of the city. W. J. Revis is in charge. This is a growing Church. It is known as St. Mary's German Catholic Church.
BLOOMINGTON SABBATH SCHOOLS.
At the time Bloomington was first settled, Sabbath schools were a new thing all over the country. Like the temperance movement, it was not quite clear whether they were to be an educational improvement mainly, or to partake of a moral as well as of a religious character. The conservatism of the community naturally arrayed itself against Sabbath schools, as against everything that was new and novel, and the labors of the originators of these institutions were, at times, severe as well as unappreciated. We have requested a statement on this subject, which was kindly furnished by that veteran in the good cause, Mr. A. C. Washburne:
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