First Methodist Church of Saginaw City
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“In the Spring of 1884 the church building with all its contents was destroyed by fire; and upon this site rose the stately edifice which, with its several additions, has filled the needs of the congregation for more than thirty years.”
-James C. Mills, History of Saginaw County, Michigan, 1918.
Today known as First United Methodist Church of Saginaw, the Methodist congregation of Saginaw City was officially founded in 1851, 175 years ago. In 1854, the congregation purchased a site on the southwest corner of Adams and South Michigan*, and for over a century, their church was located on this site. By 1860, they had constructed a structure that would serve them until it was destroyed by fire on the night of April 19, 1884. Two years later, when a new building was dedicated, the Saginaw Evening News reported:
“The Society, in instructing the architect, F.W. Hollister, to prepare plans, were somewhat restricted to by their financial condition, but the present edifice which costs, all complete, $21,000, presents a very favorable appearance, and is certainly a far better house of worship than has been the privilege of the society to occupy. The church has one of the best locations in the city. It is but a block from the center of the city and is in the neighborhood which in a few years will be built up and be made prosperous.
The appearance of the building from an external point of view is quite pleasing, considering the small amount of money expended upon it. The brickwork is finished with rough faced ashlar stone. The building has two towers, one over each of the Washington street* entrances, and is provided with a commodious chapel in which are the lecture room and class rooms. Returning to the church a few figures regarding proportions might be of interest.
The Edifice. The extreme length of the structure is 110 feet. It is 59 feet wide facing Washington street.* The side walls are 16 inches thick and are 22 feet high. Between each window, of which there are four on each side, is a buttress 21 inches in thickness extending up nearly to the roof.” (The Saginaw Evening News, January 20, 1886.)
The article continues to describe the new church in great detail. And notes: “The large number of windows shed plenty of light. The ceiling rendered as attractive as possible under the artistic touches of the painter, and the arrangement of the pulpit, all combine to please one’s fancy. The floor is very neatly carpeted. The pews afford a seating capacity of 460.”
Although over time the congregation made additions and alterations to the building, it remained a key element in defining the southern edge of Saginaw’s courthouse square– yes, Saginaw did and still has a courthouse square. F.W. Hollister, the architect of First Methodist Church, was also the architect of the courthouse and many of the other neighboring landmarks on the square.
In 1957, First Methodist Church’s building was purchased by the County of Saginaw, and the congregation constructed a new building on Gratiot Road. For a brief time, the county used the building to ease crowding in the courthouse – it even served as a courtroom. However, in 1961, the building was demolished.
Today, First United Methodist Church continues at their Gratiot Road Location and is celebrating the congregation's 175th anniversary.
*Until 1890, both Saginaw City and East Saginaw had Washington Avenues. When the two cities were merged, Washington Avenue on the west side of the river was renamed Michigan Avenue.
The Recipe: Cream Peas
To two cups of peas, well drained, add three-fourths cup rich cream and mix well and serve hot at once. A pleasant addition to this is a can of mushrooms.
From The Housewife’s Own Cook Book** published by The Women’s Aid Society of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, Saginaw, Michigan, Circle Number 1, circa 1915.
CTK Notes:
We followed the recipe faithfully. That said, don’t forget that frozen steamed peas are available and would make the preparation of this recipe pleasantly simple. We did not try the canned mushroom enrichment.
We found the recipe simple, rich and quite good.
**CTK Historical Note: Although The Housewife’s Own Cook Book is rich with advertisements from local businesses - especially westside merchants, other than this advertising and the name on the cover, there is nothing to connect the piece to First Methodist Church, its congregation or even Saginaw. It is quite possible that it was a cookbook created by a national publisher with only the cover and advertising altered to reflect the congregation selling it. This hypothesis is given further support by the opening lines of the Foreword: “The recipes are carefully compiled from the best domestic authorities and from some of the famous cooks in the Southland. Besides these authentic recipes this book contains many new things about which housewives like to know.”