Pioneer Gothic Church

Infobox nrhp
name = Pioneer Gothic Church
nrhp_type =


caption =
location = Dwight, Livingston County, Illinois, USA
nearest_city =
lat_degrees = 41
lat_minutes = 5
lat_seconds = 43
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 88
long_minutes = 25
long_seconds = 34
long_direction = W
area =
built = 1857
architect =
architecture = Carpenter Gothic
added = July 28, 1983
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
refnum =
mpsub =
governing_body = Dwight Historical SocietyThe Pioneer Gothic Church is located in the village of Dwight, Illinois, United States. The building is a rare example of an extant wood framed Carpenter Gothic church in the state of Illinois. The building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

History

The Pioneer Gothic Church was built by a Presbyterian congregation in the village of Dwight, Illinois, United States, in Livingston County, in 1857." [http://www.dwightillinois.com/history.htm Historic Sites] ," Pioneer Gothic Church, "Village of Dwight", official site. Retrieved 11 October 2007.] In 1860, Prince Edward of Wales visited Dwight on a hunting expedition for wild birds and attended a church service at the Pioneer Gothic Church. Between 1869 and 1891 Dwight experienced four major fires, all of which the wooden church survived. The building served as a church and a township hall for Dwight Township, it is operated by the Dwight Historical Society.

Architecture

The Pioneer Gothic Church is an example of wooden framed, Carpenter Gothic church building. It is an example of a rare type of building, as wood was scarce and fire frequent on the prairie that covered parts of early Illinois.Chiat, Marilyn Joyce. "The Spiritual Traveler-- Chicago and Illinois: A Guide to Sacred Sites and Peaceful Places", ( [http://books.google.com/books?id=wDTGrb8o-zgC&pg=PA332&dq=Gothic+Church+Dwight,+Illinois+-music&ie=ISO-8859-1&sig=cEXD23qBDirS3waQ810f2t0cRFI Google Books] ), Hidden Spring: 2004, pp. 332–33, (ISBN 1587680106). Retrieved 11 October 2007.] Though Gothic Revival style is most often associated with masonry buildings and large cathedrals wooden buildings in the style reflect the skill of the builder. The Dwight Pioneer Gothic Church uses board and batten siding, more often affiliated with barns, that emphasizes the vertical nature of the building. The chamfered corners on the towers and the window pediments further reinforces this characteristic.

ignificance

The American Institute of Architects celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2007, as part of the celebration the group selected "150 great places in Illinois." Among the selections was the Dwight Pioneer Gothic Church." [http://www.illinoisgreatplaces.com/ Illinois Great Places] ," "American Institute of Architects" (Illinois), ( [http://www.illinoisgreatplaces.com/AIA_150_Illinois_Final_List.pdf PDF List] ), official site, 2007. Retrieved 11 October 2007.] The church is one of "only a handful" of extant 19th century Carpenter Gothic churches in the state of Illinois. The Pioneer Gothic Church was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on July 28, 1983. [http://www.nr.nps.gov/ National Register Information System] , National Register of Historic Places, "National Park Service". Retrieved 11 October 2007.]

ee also

*Ambler's Texaco Gas Station
*John R. Oughton House
*Keeley Institute

Notes