West Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church (La Crosse, Wisconsin) Records


Summary Information
Title: West Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church (La Crosse, Wisconsin) Records
Date: 1887-1941

Creator:
  • West Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church (La Crosse, Wis.).
Unique Identifier: MSS 047, Micro 20

Quantity: 0.1 cubic feet

General Physical Description: 1 reel of 35 mm microfilm

Repository:
La Crosse Public Library
Contact Information

Archival Location:
La Crosse Public Library (Map)

Abstract:
These records are from the Colman Methodist Episcopal Church, organized Oct. 18, 1887, and renamed West Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church in 1894. Asbury United Methodist Church in La Crosse was formed in 1945 as the result of a merger of the Salzer, First, and West Avenue Methodist congregations. The church records include members (official and probationers), 1887-ca. 1921; baptisms, 1887-1941; marriages, ca. 1887-1934; and burials, 1887-1921. All records were written in the English language.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.lcpl-mss047
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Historical Note

Colman Methodist Episcopal Church was organized Oct. 18, 1887, and renamed West Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church in 1894. In 1945, West Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church merged with the Salzer Memorial Church and First Methodist Church to form Asbury United Methodist Church.

Asbury Methodist congregation was officially organized in June 1946. The congregations of the Salzer Memorial Church, First Methodist Church, and the West Avenue Methodist Church were combined into two groups after a fire destroyed the Salzer church and a need for a church in the southern section of South Side La Crosse was apparent. The First Methodist Church became Wesley Methodist while most the West Avenue and Salzer congregations became the Asbury congregation. Ground was broken for the Asbury United Methodist Church at 19th and Redfield Streets in September of 1947. The cornerstone for the church at 1818 Redfield St. was laid on May 17, 1948. While construction of the new church was taking place, services were held in the Longfellow School auditorium. On November 21, 1948, the first services were held in the new church.

The church is built in Gothic style and is finished in light-colored brick with Bedford stone trim. The seating capacity of the church is 329 persons and there is also a balcony. Other features of the church are a sanctuary, a chapel, church parlor, dining room, kitchen and educational wind. Remodeling and an addition of the church started in July 1963. Two above-ground floors and a basement partially underground were erected adjacent to and west of the existing structure. The kitchen was remodeled and addition were made to the classrooms, a pastor's study, church school office, choir rehearsal, storage room, nursery and a crib room. In March 1964 the consecration of a new three-level Christian education building was held.

Scope and Contents

These records are from the Colman Methodist Episcopal Church, organized Oct. 18, 1887, and renamed West Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church in 1894. The church records include members (official and probationers), 1887-circa 1921; baptisms, 1887-1941; marriages, circa 1887-1934; and burials, 1887-1921. All records were written in the English language.

Acquisitions Information

(Accession no. 1997.023)

Purchased by the Archives with gift funds from the Genealogical Society of Utah with permission of Dr. Larry Moody, Pastor, Oct. 1997; originals filmed in July 1981; GSU control number 1306452.

Processing Information

Finding aid written by Anita Taylor Doering, Dec. 1997.

OCLC Number

47043585

Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for patron use.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], West Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church (La Crosse, Wisconsin) Records, MSS 047, La Crosse Public Library Archives, La Crosse, WI

Arrangement

Originally there were three churches on this reel of microfilm. For patron ease, these have been spliced apart. As a result, this reel starts with item 2 instead of being labeled item 1. If the original volume had pagination (page numbers), then these are included in the reel list below.

Subject Terms
  • Asbury United Methodist Church (La Crosse, Wis.)
  • Colman Methodist Episcopal Church (La Crosse, Wis.).
  • West Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church (La Crosse, Wis.).
  • Church records and registers--Wisconsin--La Crosse
  • Methodist Church--Wisconsin--La Crosse
Contents List
Church Register
Reel 1
  Item 2
History
Reel 1
  Item 2
  Page 2, 26-42
Full members
Reel 1
  Item 2
  Page 43-47
Probationers, 1887?-1891
Reel 1
  Item 2
  Page 80-82
Baptisms, 1887?-1889
Reel 1
  Item 2
  Page 94-95
Marriages,
Historical record
Reel 1
  Item 3
Pastoral and statistical, 1888-1916
Reel 1
  Item 3
Official members (officers), 1883-1914
Reel 1
  Item 3
Probationers record, circa 1891-1915
Full members
Reel 1
  Item 3
(alphabetical), circa 1888-1906
Reel 1
  Item 3
(alphabetical), 1906-circa 1915
Reel 1
  Item 3
Baptisms, 1890-1916
Reel 1
  Item 3
Marriages, 1891-1916
Reel 1
  Item 3
Funeral record (in appendix), 1907-1910
Church Register
Reel 1
  Item 4
  Page 14
Pastoral and statistical, 1916-1920
Reel 1
  Item 4
  Page 18-19
Official members (officers), 1916-1917
Reel 1
  Item 4
  Page 26-31
Probationers
Reel 1
  Item 4
  Page 58-59
Baptized children under instruction
Reel 1
  Item 4
  Page 70-71, 162-173
Baptized children
Reel 1
  Item 4
  Page 82-153
Full members (alphabetical), 1893-circa 1921
Reel 1
  Item 4
  Page 162-173
Baptisms, circa 1911-1941
Reel 1
  Item 4
  Page 174-184
Marriages, 1916-1934
Reel 1
  Item 4
  Page 186
Funerals, 1916-1921