Wesley United Methodist Church - Niles, Michigan
Posted by: 
BruceS
N 41° 49.734 W 086° 15.365
16T E 561774 N 4631046
Historic Methodist Church in Niles.
Waymark Code: WM2VFZ
Location: Michigan, United States
Date Posted: 12/25/2007
Views: 53
Wesley United Methodist Church
The cornerstone of this handsome Italianate style church was laid in 1862.
The pastor at that time was the Reverend William Sprague, who organized the
first Methodist class in Niles in 1832. Sprague was presiding elder of the
district for four years, a member of the U.S. Congress and a state Indian agent.
The church's architect is believed to have been Rufus Rose of Chicago, who
designed several other notable structures in Niles. Construction was under the
general supervision of Cass Chapman of Niles. Measuring forty-six by seventy
feet, the original edifice had two corner towers. The square pyramid-roofed
tower remains, but the mansard capped tower was removed in 1951. Over the years
the church has had several additions and alterations, but the original
wainscoting, woodwork and windows have been retained. ~ text of marker
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