OLDEST -- oldest building in the Historic Ottawa Central Business District - Ottawa, Kansas - First of its Kind on Waymarking.com

Date of Construction: 1871
Style: Victorian Gothic
Historic Name: First Congregational Church
Architect: John G. Haskell

This is a Victorian Gothic church. Distinctive features include the steep gable roof and the pointed arch openings. The building has a stone foundation and asbestos shingle siding. In the west and north walls, tall windows with diamond-shaped panes of leaded stained glass allow light to enter the sanctuary. A bell tower rises on the north side of the building, just east of the recessed entrance porch.

The First Congregational Church is the oldest building in the Historic Ottawa Central Business District and reflects the work of John G. Haskell, one of the first professional architects to practice in the state of Kansas. While the asbestos siding compromises the architectural integrity of this building, it retains numerous architectural features that convey its architectural style and historic associations. Among these are its floor plan and massing; lancet windows with leaded stained glass; beadboard ceilings on the front porch; and Victorian door hardware. Additionally, Sanborn Fire Insurance Company maps reveal that the church originally occupied the lot at the southeast corner of Hickory and 3rd Streets. It was moved two lots to the south to its present location when the Memorial Hall was built. While moved buildings are generally not eligible for listing in the National Register, the relocation of this building reflects a planned effort by the community to erect a civic building while not disenfranchising an established religious community. Therefore, in reflection of its age, its associations with architect John G. Haskell, and its significant surviving architectural details, and its associations with the historic contexts presented in this nomination, the First Congregational Church contributes to the significance of the historic district.

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