Gothic Revival architectural style: A Baptist Church and a Masonic Lodge | History | effinghamdailynews.com

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Effingham, Illinois

When people hear about the American Gothic Revival architectural style from the 1830s to the 1870s, they may think of some magnificent churches in Europe, such as Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, Germany, and St. John's Cathedral. Anthony of Padua in Effingham and St. Francis Catholic Church in Teutopolis in Effingham County.

Both were designed by German immigrant, architect and contractor Caspar Nolte. The Catholic Church uses stained glass windows to tell religious stories or pay tribute to church families. Protestant churches lack stained glass and tend to use pure, transparent leaded glass. Some of the style elements include castle-like towers, railings and window tracery. Some houses have doors and windows, doors and arched porches, skylights, exterior pilasters or roof walls as decorative elements. Steep roofs are also common.

The Gothic Revival style began in the mid-19th century as part of the "picturesque" and "romantic" movements. This style runs counter to popular styles that were previously influenced by Greek or Roman styles. The Gothic Revival and Greek Revival styles draw inspiration from the past. These two styles remained popular until the mid-19th century. Famous architects such as Alexander Jackson Davis and Alexander Johnson Downing have written three books on the Gothic style, including house plans. They are rural residence (1837), cottage residence (1842) and rural house construction (1850). The result of these books is that these styles are designs suitable for rural environments, which have complex, irregular shapes and shapes that are very suitable for natural landscapes. The Gothic Revival movement first appeared in Philadelphia and Baltimore around 1800. It was not until the 1830s that this style became a mature architectural movement in New York City.

The Gothic Revival is often chosen for country houses and churches. It is also used in high-rise buildings, buildings, prisons and schools. For many churches of lower complexity, there are usually round or pointed windows and wooden front walls. The Victorian Gothic style incorporates some elements and is mainly used in educational university buildings. The Gothic Revival style provides an alternative to the Greek Revival style. It calls for the "picturesque" and "natural" of Romantic Classicism, which is the "Romantic Naturalism" of Geneva philosopher and composer Jean Jacques Rousseau.

In the Gothic philosophy, the building reached the "picturesque" (attention to architecture and landscape) in the form of a spire, just like in medieval cathedrals and castles in Gothic architecture. Other decoration changes include groups of chimneys, leaded glass windows, four-leaf carvings and shaped windows (cloverleaf), oriel windows protruding from the building, and asymmetrical floor plans. The Gothic Revival style eventually evolved into a domed and blocky Victorian style. The style also shares common features with the Italian style.

If there is enough land for landscaping, the model is a "natural English garden", like the Central Park in New York designed by Frederick Law Olmstead. The Gothic Revival buildings in the park can sometimes be dated by elaborate eave supports. As the style changed to Victorian style, the roof brackets and purlin extensions of the roof were also incorporated. After the Civil War, square brackets were often used in pairs. These decorations are called "gingerbread". The Abraham-Martin House in Watson, Illinois is a variant called the "Hudson River Gothic", with barge panel decoration extending the entire gable panel. The house at 608 W. Fayette Avenue in Effingham has a variety of styles, called "Carpenter Gothic" (Carpenter Gothic), which used to be installed on the gable end of the steeply sloping roof Serve the gingerbread crust. The upper part of the porch also has many spindles above the railing.

The Gothic Revival in the United States is not without critics. Grace Glueck in the New York Times newspaper said: "It's uncomfortable, gorgeous and pretentious." Its chair looks like a throne, and its table and sideboard have A large presence can be called dignified at best. Among the rich, it talked about class and ideological respect, and at the same time evoked the piety of medieval Christianity. The simplicity of its folk interpretation has attracted the general public.

In the 2006 exhibition in New York City, titled "Stylish: American Gothic Revival 1800-1860", there were 75 paintings, drawings and objects made of porcelain, glass, silver and metal. It provides the audience with a focused style and has a carefully researched exhibition catalog.

When the Baptist Church in Effingham was founded in 1860, its congregation increased, and a new church was needed. The church officials chose the Gothic Revival style for the new church. It was completed in 1866 with several modifications. Until the mid-1940s, the church again needed a new church, which was built one block to the west of the old church.

At that time, Effingham's 149 Mason's Cottage purchased and modified the old church to meet its needs in 1949. Gothic Revival furniture with arches was added to the interior of the Masonic Hall. The oak plinths of the worship master, senior warden and junior warden all have the same Gothic arches.

Recently, the Freemasonry brothers and juvenile warden Phil Lewis found and purchased three Gothic Revival officers’ chairs. They were manufactured in Columbus, Ohio in 1855 by MC Lilley and Company, a producer of military and social goods. The walnut chair has a Gothic Revival style that matches the furnishings of the cabin. The "gilded square" is located in the four-leaf shape of the chairs of the two senior and junior guardians, while the master's chair has a "gilded compass". These are the symbols of the Freemasonry Brotherhood.

Lewis donated them to the hotel to emphasize and value the three main officials of the hotel. They are in very good condition. The Freemasonry brothers commented on their grandeur in the hotel. They are from the Lawrenceville Masonic Hotel in Lawrenceville, Illinois. When I asked a brother there why they dismantled them from their residence, they said that they found a better one in a Chicago residence. Some hotels around Illinois ceased operations due to low membership. When this happens, other hotels can buy Masonic furniture. In various regions of the country, some suits are very complicated and expensive. The chair is a nice addition to the Effingham Masonic Hotel No. 149.

When Illinois extends Fayette Avenue from the west side of the Sacred Heart Church to Willow Street in the east, the buildings on the south side of the street will be occupied by Illinois laws within the jurisdiction and demolished for the project. The members of the hotel have discussed with other Masonic hotels in the county about what the hotel will do at that time.

For more information, questions or comments, please contact Phil Lewis at 217-342-6280, or contact him via the following email

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