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Events after 1925
The old Church is
demolished and the New Church built
On January 6, 1925, the rector appointed a committee, J.
C. Fulton, L. L. Rene and F. F. Murray, to consider the feasibility of a new
parish house, and also devise building and finance plans for same and report
results. On May 7, 1925, the amount of pledges for the new church seemed to be
about $14,300. By May 26th, about $18,088 had been pledged toward
the new building. Officers were empowered to make application for a loan on the
church property not to exceed $20,800.
On May 12, 1925, to make way for the new structure, the
little church, a historic building of White Bear township, village and city, was
deconsecrated by Bishop McElwain. The last service was held Sunday, July 26,
1925 (see Plate). The old
settlers
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Plate.
The Choir in 1925 at the Last Service of
the Old Church (click
here or on image for higher resolution views) |
of White Bear had tried in vain to preserve the old church, but it was
entirely demolished, except for a small portion that was used in building a summer
cottage. By Aug. 12, 1925, bids received for building the church and parish
house ranged from about $43,000 to $60,000. Then on August 26th at a
special vestry meeting, all bids were rejected, considered to be too high. A
contract was entered into with E. C. Davies, a White Bear contractor, to do it
on a cost plus 5% basis, and to proceed forthwith. Later that summer, work
began on the new church. The engraving on the cornerstone reads: St. John’s In
The Wilderness, laid by the Masonic Fraternity, Nov. 14, 1925.
On July 12, 1926, Mr. Murray of the Building Committee
reported that unless more money was forthcoming, work on the new church would
cease. It was moved that the vestry officers be authorized to negotiate a loan
from the bank to be secured by pledges. On Dec. 15, 1926, the cost of the new
church and parish house was submitted, amounting to $55,482 (They would have
been better off to have accepted original bids). The money raised by the parish
to date was $18,547. It was decided the only way to meet the situation -- and it
had to be met quickly -- was to place a second mortgage on the church property.
During the summer of 1926, the new church, built of tile,
stucco and stone trim, one of the finest buildings in the city, was completed (see Plate). The new church was pure Gothic in
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Plate.
New Church at
First and Clark Avenue, built in 1926 (click
here or on image for higher resolution views) |
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style with attached parish house, as designed by C. E. Van Kirk, a St. Paul
architect. On June 20, 1926, it was dedicated by Bishop McElwain, assisted by
Rev. John Temple, then presiding pastor, along with Rev. Thomas Dewhurst of
Stillwater and Rev. C. B. Latermer, the Presbyterian pastor in White Bear Lake.
Besides the church proper, there was a chapel, rector’s office, auditorium,
kitchen and parish hall. Upstairs in the parish house was an auditorium with a
stage. This upstairs area was also used for Sunday School. Below the auditorium
was a large open area that could be used as a dining room and also for Sunday school.
Part of the present rector’s office was a chapel, and the kitchen was where the
parlor is now located.
The January 6th annual meetings in 1926, 1928
and 1930 were followed by musical entertainment. In 1926, following the annual
meeting, those present were treated to several selections by the “Masonic
Quartette,” consisting of Ernest Wilkinson, Cleo Smith, Orville Kuhl and F. A.
Amundson. Following the 1928 annual meeting, the “Jolly Five” orchestra,
consisting of Robert Bone, Roger and Donald Weld, Rutherford Brosious and Mr.
Long, played two pieces. The 1930 annual meeting was held on Monday evening. There
were about 85 present. Carl J. Mattlin was elected vestryman. After cutting of
cake, the balance of the evening was spent in dancing to “old time” music.
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