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ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Methodist
Church
Methodist
Campgrounds
1859
02 03 The revival in the Methodist
Church still continues with unabated zeal and fervor WD
05
12 Methodist
Church enlarging house of worship; some thirty-five feet will be added to
the length of present building WG
1860
02 23 Rev. N. J. Aplin,
donation visit for WD
03 15 DR.
CHARLES JEWETT lectures on use of ardent spirits
Dr. Charles Jewett of Boston is
now delivering to large audiences in the Methodist Church a series of able and
interesting lectures on the injurious effects of the use of ardent
spirits. The lectures are not to merely
amuse and please, but to have a practical value and application. His way of treating the subject is very
different from the common one—he investigates it as he would any other
scientific question and demonstrates as clearly as facts, observations and
experience can prove anything, the necessarily destructive and fatal effects of
all alcoholic drinks on the human system.
Of course, such a conclusion everybody knows to be correct, but it is
the manner in which it is arrived at—the path of reasoning and argument through
which we are led to it—that renders the discussion fascinating and
instructive. All who can should attend
the course. It is not every day that we
have the opportunity of listening to so accomplished a teacher as Dr. Jewett. WD
1862
12 25 SABBATH
SCHOOL FESTIVAL
The children attending the
Sabbath School of the Methodist Church of this city are to be rewarded with one
of those pleasant and delightful festivals which are so popular among all
members of such institutions and lend to them an attraction that draws many
little ones within the circle of their influence. Well, next Wednesday evening the last of the
old departing year, the happy time is to come off, and we have no doubt that
the brightest faces in that assembly will be those oftenest seen in their
places on each passing Sunday and who have been most diligent in getting and
reciting their lessons well. WD
1864
07 14 PICNIC
AT PINE LAKE
Methodist Sunday School Pic
Nic: On Thursday, the 14th, the
Methodist Sunday School of this city will take their annual pic nic excursion to Pine Lake.
That is a pleasant place to go.
It is not far away, yet sufficiently distant to have a fine ride on the
cars and get away from the familiar sights and sounds of dusty and busy
streets. When the members of a party
once find themselves under the overshadowing arches of the old woods and on the
margin of the clear lakes, they have nothing to do but make themselves as happy
as they choose and if they do not find excitement and novelty enough in the
fresh scenes around them the fault must be their own. At all events the children never fail to keep
the groves vocal with their merry voices and make the most of these delightful
expeditions to the country. WD
1865
03 23 UNION
RELIGIOUS MEETINGS
“ . . . These meetings are not to be
denominational in design or character – the sole object being to induce men to
become Christians. We extend to you a
respectful and earnest invitation to attend all these meetings and we ask your
influence and active efforts to secure the attendance of others.
“We especially urge upon all
Christians, in view of the spiritual wants of our city, to lay aside, as far as
practicable, their secular occupations and sustain these meetings.”
C. Boynton, Pastor of the Congregational Church, and I. Searles,
Pastor of the Methodist Church. WD
1902
03 14 FLORENCE RICHARD LECTURE ON TEMPERANCE
The fine audience that gathered
in the Methodist church Tuesday evening to hear Mrs. Florence D. Richards'
lecture on temperance, listened with the deepest attention as the lady spoke of
the evils of the saloons, and of the work of the Women's Christian Temperance
Union, or Organized Mother-love, as the union is sometimes characterized. Mrs. Richards is a forcible, eloquent
speaker, and easily carried her audience with her, moving it to laughter or
tears as she passed from wit to pathos.
Her visit was greatly encouraged and strengthened the local union, which
is more than ever determined to keep on in the work for "God, and Home,
and Native land." WG
1908
04 10 The Lenten services at the Methodist church
closed last evening. Rev. Hastlestad spoke on "The Relation between Purpose and
Action." God calls upon men to take
advanced positions on customs of life, issues, and moral principles which mean
little or nothing in the old world life but which mean much in the new life. Advancement in cleanliness of private life,
exactness in business relations and moral purposes generally . . . the load we
carry for our failures of the past will hold good for tomorrow for the failures
of today. . . . We have no claim upon God except as we use our powers. Sins cannot be forgiven as long as they are
harbored; light is of no value until it is used; activity glorifies God when it
expresses glorious purposes.
It was a strong presentation. Rev. Hastlestad
returns this morning to his home in Milton with the benedictions of all who
heard Him.
1909
02 12 Unveiling of likeness of Jonas Stahl,
who, for thirty years was the inspiration of the Methodist Church and Sunday
school WG
Methodist campgrounds
Watertown Daily Times, 08 08 1992
Last month's announcement that Don and Nerina Grinwald were donating the 11 acre parcel of land adjacent to Milford Street Park
brought back memories of the old Methodist campgrounds to some long-time
Watertown residents.
The campgrounds were located
on the parcel which the Grinwalds purchased and are
donating to the city for park expansion.
One of our regular readers
told us her family farm was located next to the campgrounds, and she remembered
the operation quite well.
She said back in about 1910
there was a family by the name of Dahms who had a
cottage on the site of the campgrounds.
She said the family stayed there all summer long and then returned to
their home in the fall.
She said the Methodists had a
week-long camp at that location each year, in June. The camp basically consisted of a tabernacle
in the center and was surrounded by probably a dozen cottages for sleeping
quarters. On one end was the dining
room.
Each of the cottages were
named after a city in Wisconsin. Among
the names were Eau Claire, Stevens Point, Wausau, Columbus, Juneau, Beaver Dam
and several from Milwaukee.
There was nothing modem about
the cottages. They were
up on stilts and had no water or rest room facilities. T he second floor was
for sleeping quarters.
The tabernacle floor was dirt.
All it had inside was benches for participants to sit and a stage of
sorts on one end.
She said in the winter all of the units had the windows and doors
boarded up until the warmer weather of the next year.
She recalled that back in about 1950 she and her husband returned to
visit the old campgrounds and found the buildings in a state of disrepair.
She said the tabernacle was still standing and upon entering it she
found a box full of old Methodist hymnals on the stage. She kept one as a memento and has it to this
day.
She also recalled many groups used the campgrounds after taking a train
trip to Watertown. She said they would come up from Johnson Creek and other
cities along the Chicago and North Western line and then have a parade-like
walk out to the campgrounds. Often the
trains would be met by wagons pulled by horses.
Another Watertown resident, Orv Wesemann, told
us a bit more information about the camp.
He said it was back in 1949 that he made arrangements with Rev. Don
Standard, pastor of the local Methodist congregation, to purchase two of the
cabins for $400 each.
Wesemann said he razed them and
used die wood for construction of his home on Ninth Street.
He also recalled that one of the primary reasons the camp was closed was
the state's insistence that plumbing be installed in the cottages. He said the Methodists decided instead to
commit funds to other camps which were located along lakes, etc., for more
recreational opportunities.
The Methodists, he recalled were not the only group to use the
site. Many churches of other
denominations used the site for their summer picnics as well.
So, after many years as a campgrounds for people in the area, the old
Methodist property is being returned from private ownership back to the public
domain.
TLS
Text
COPYRIGHTED by the Watertown Daily Times
1912
08 15 REV. WILLIAM NOWACK
First Methodist Church Sunday school 10 a.m., morning
worship 11 a.m., Epworth league 7:15, topic, "The Renunciation of Vulgar
Display as a Means of Recognition, the Modesty of Strength." Evening worship 8 p.m. Services at Pipersville at 9 a.m., Sunday
school at 10 a.m. The Rev. William Nowack, missionary of China, will be the speaker at all of
the services, both morning and evening.
Everybody is cordially invited at these services. Strangers very welcome. WG
1915
03 25 LAWRENCE GLEE CLUB
A Splendid Concert.
One of the very best concerts ever given here was that at the First
Methodist church last Monday evening by the Lawrence Glee club. There was a large audience present and the
splendid program furnished was thoroughly enjoyed. WG
10 07 REAPPOINTMENT OF REV. KNUTZEN TO PASTORATE
Friday evening the Epworth League of the First
Methodist church pleasantly entertained members and friends at the church
parlors in honor of the reappointment of Rev. Lorenz Knutzen
to the pastorate of the church. Miss
Abbie Norton gave an address of welcome to the pastor on behalf of the league
and he responded in a very feeling manner.
Miss Florence Amadon rendered some choice
piano music, and Watertown’s popular reader, Miss Edna Chadwick, gave several
excellent readings, which called forth much applause and favorable
comment. A vocal solo was rendered by
Miss Florence Piller, and the program closed by refreshments
served by members of the league. WG
1963
09 18 NEW CHURCH PLANS
Plans were announced here today on behalf of the Watertown Methodist congregation for
construction of a new church edifice to be erected on a tract of land acquired
last year, on the Rock River front on Hall Street, directly opposite Doctors
Court. Preliminary plans presented by
James Potter of the architectural firm of Law, Law Potter and Nystrom of
Madison were approved by the congregation in May. WG
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin