The Christian Church of Marceline, now known as the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), at 116 West Gracia Avenue in Marceline, Linn County, Missouri was designed and built in 1915 by Albert (A.J.) Richardson, a Marceline contractor, architect, and member of the church. It is located half a block west of Marceline’s southern block of the downtown commercial district on West Gracia Avenue, a mostly residential street. It is a local example of Classical Revival/Neoclassical architecture in the city. This structure was built to accommodate the growing congregation of the church. Four non-contributing resources sit on the property: A small prayer garden with benches and a marble monument (assembly counted as one non-contributing structure) is directly northwest of the building and a parking lot (non-contributing structure) occupies most of the western half of the property; a flag pole occupies the southwest corner approximately 10 feet from the southwest corner of the primary façade, while a welcome sign sits about four feet away from the southeast corner of the primary façade. The church is located immediately west of the east border with the alley. The two-story brick building with a basement and a shingled hipped cross-gable roof is divided into three bays on its south elevation (façade), five bays on its east elevation, a north elevation with four bays, and nine bays on its west elevation. All elevations (south, east, north and west) are faced with red brick and recessed fields of lighter red bricks occurring in some areas at the primary level of each side of the building. The south façade features a central portico with central steps flanked by a pair of Ionic columns on either side. The secondary elevations (east, north, and west) are brick with stone lintels and sills. The building’s interior upper levels are functional and conservatively decorated with historic detailing, such as a domed nave, stained and painted lead glass, a flat ceiling throughout the back portion of the building where offices, storage and classrooms are, and original organ pipes; the basement maintains many of its historical features, such as room dimensions and locations. The interior and exterior maintain historical integrity.
The 1915 building had parapets at the top of each tower when it was originally built. Those were removed prior to 1963.[1] More research is needed to know when these were removed. Among the changes are the installation of non-historic entryways on the east and west sides of the building, and an ADA compliant ramp (Photo 2) for those with mobility issues at the east elevation. A flood caused damage to the basement resulting in the bathroom and some other areas being repaired and updated, but no structural work has been done.
Jump to Part 2.
ELABORATION
SETTING
The First Christian Church of Marceline (known at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Marceline) covers most of its historic lot along West Gracia Avenue (a brick/cobblestone road) plus 3.5 other lots (three to the west and a half lot to the east). It is situated one block west of the southern part of Marceline’s downtown commercial district. The area is a residential neighborhood with a mix of late-19th – early-20th century homes and some vacant lots.[2]
Setting and Site
The 1894, 1902, and 1911 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps (Figures 21-23) indicate a building was located on this spot, but its outline is different than the current building. Each map shows the same boundary. In 1894, the historical boundary of the church was lots 24 -26;[3] three houses with other buildings on lots 27-32[4] are now occupied by a parking lot and a green space. To the east was the plot that would later be acquired by the church. The 1902 Sanborn map shows the same layout (Figure 22). By 1911, the church owned lot 23, which contained the house and two unidentified buildings to the east. The house due west on plots 27-28 stayed largely the same, but it appears the two houses which occupied lots 29-30 and 31-32 respectively were combined into two houses on one large lot covering lots 29-32 (Figure 23).
The building seen in the 1894 Sanborn map (Figure 21) was the congregation’s original 1890 church located on the same plots as the current building (the historical boundary). The building seen in these maps still exists as the shell of the middle section of the current building. The old church, which faced W. Gracie Avenue as does the current resource, was raised up and rotated 90 degrees so the south-facing primary façade faced either east or west.[5] The basement was dug under the old church as it was lifted. It was then set down on top of the basement. It does not appear to be visible inside the new church.[6]
The lots to the west of the church stretching to the border with Chestnut Street were donated to the church in 1989. The lot due east of the building is owned by the church; the house that formerly sat on the lot was demolished in 1972 and the plot was split in two and half of the plot donated to the church in 1982.[7] The land currently occupied by the garage in the northeast corner of the property is not owned by the church; it is private property (Figures 2-3).
The First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) constitutes a major architectural presence along West Gracia Avenue and in Marceline. The church shares its block with its parking lot to the west and a small garage building not associated with the church in the northeast corner of the block occupied by the church, a parking lot to the west, signage in front of the south primary façade, a ramp attached to the building to the east, a flagpole near the southwest corner of the church, and a seating/prayer garden to the north of the building.
Exterior of the First Christian Church of Marceline
South Elevation (Primary Façade)
The south elevation is the church’s primary façade and is used as the main entrance into the building. It contains three bays. One bay is a central recessed portico. The other two bays are towers (Photo 1).
The historic water table divides the basement from the upper floors.
On the south façade a two-sash window flanks the stairs to the porch, on the east side and the other on the west side, respectively. These are found behind the shrubs.
Portico Area
The portico is topped with a flat roof and a stone-like parapet with a subdued, flowing battlement that is rounded and curving embrasures rather than is the typical square ones, but with squared merlon (Photo 1).
The portico, which measures 22′ x 10’9″,[8] is accessed via a rise of eleven concrete stairs with non-historic handrails and is flanked by two two-story towers on each side (east and west respectively).
The portico is a masonry and wood interpretation of a classical Ionic temple portico and employs metal Ionic columns. This central bay has a large portico. There are four paired Ionic columns with two on each side of the stairs leading to the portico. The columns have rounded plinths. The columns support a wood entablature. The entablature has a stucco parapet above the wood. These columns were identified as all steel;[9] however, the capitals are wood.[10]
A pair of wood doors with stone lintels flanks the porch on both the west and east sides of the portico (Figure 15). A stone inlay (described below) is centered in the north wall below four stained-glass window pairings—a small stained-glass window, topped by a longer stained-glass window (Figure 14). These stairs are flanked by two historic stacked brick pedestal which have a large square base at ground level with a smaller square brick pedestal on top of it, and the entire column capped with an historic globe light. The lights rest on a concrete cap while the prick pedestal itself rest on stone (Photo 1). It appears the smaller brick pedestal is a later addition; the date of this addition is unknown. At both the east and west walls of the recessed porch area the walls of the towers.[11]
The backwall (north wall) of the recessed porch holds a set of four historic stained-glass and painted lead windows (Photo 1). Each window consists of a large, vertically oriented rectangular panel with a small, horizontally oriented rectangular panel at the top and bottom. A more in-depth discussion of the stained-glass windows can be found below in the “Stained Glass/Painted
Leaded Glass” subsection.
Below this row of windows is the date stone with the date of construction. It reads:
First Christian Church
Erected 1915
This stone is surrounded by a flat segmented brick surround.
The ceiling material under the portico is historic bead board. There is also bead board in the east stairwell.
Jump to Part 2.
Towers
On the first floor of both towers is the multicolored quoining referenced above. These areas are seen centered on each wall (Photo 1). The quoining effect is seen at every corner of this façade. Both towers have a centered wood-framed, two-sash stained-glass window with a stone sill and lintel on the first floor. The second-floor windows are functional. There are external historic windows covering the stained glass on each elevation. The second story of each tower has a single one-over-one wood window, also with concrete sills and lintels. These areas are standard red brick.
Roof
The roof is non-historic asphalt shingle. Facing north toward the primary façade the building’s hipped, cross gabled roof over the entablature gives the appearance of a triangular gable typical of this style.
East Elevation
The east elevation is divided into three bays. The southernmost section is the east side of the eastern tower of the south façade. This is followed by a recessed section and a larger section to the north (Photo 2). The historic water table divides the basement from the upper floors.
A non-historic entryway with a ramp leads to a non-historic door in the east tower; it measures 15’6 1/2″ x 31’11” long and 4’11” wide. The ramp extends from the entry way along most of the central section (Photo 2). It extends out from the church about 15 feet and consists of two slopes, the first of which moves up toward the north and the other continues upward to the south where it connects with the non-historic door to the sanctuary.
Southern Bay
The southern bay—the east wall of the east tower—has similar features as to what is seen on the tower when viewed from the southern exposure. The same quoining feature exists on this wall and wraps around the north corner of the bay blending into the short north wall connecting to the recessed central bay.
The tower wall holds an historic wood-framed door with a transom topped with a stone lintel on the first level. A non-historic wood ramp was built in the mid-1900s to comply with ADA regulations for individuals with mobility issues (Photo 2).[12] The tower’s second level contains a wood window with a single light in the upper sash. The bottom sash has non-historic infill with a vent.
Central Bay
The central section is recessed by approximately 12 inches meeting with the north wall of the east tower. The south wall of the recessed area is red brick. This recessed wall of the bay has the same quoining seen on the towers. It holds a set of four stained-glass and painted lead glass windows. There are three rows of windows: small upper and lower transom windows and a central row made of four large, fixed panels. The central windows display scenes from the Bible, the lower transom windows have names of donors in them, which the upper transom windows have no elaborations.[13]
There are no second-floor windows in this bay because this bay is the outer wall of the church’s sanctuary/nave; the sanctuary is one large room with a domed ceiling (see below for more details about the sanctuary. A modern, non-historic entrance has been added to this bay. The entrance is reminiscent of a shed. It is a square wooden entrance painted white and containing a non-historic metal door facing east. It occupies the north corner of the bay and is approximately 7 feet in height.
Along the basement are six two-sash windows that line the east elevation with three obscured by the ramp; one of these windows at the far north end of this wall is boarded up.
Northern Bay
This bay has three levels of windows and the same quoining effect see elsewhere. also has a one-over-one historic window with concrete sills and lintels on the second floor (Photo 2). This section has three equally spaced bays from east to west. Each bay contains a one-over-one non-historic window set into historic wood frames with an historic concrete lintel and sill.
The basement level holds two of these windows (central and north bays) while the south bay of this wall is boarded over. The first-floor bays are set in a lighter red brick than that used for the quoining. Each non-historic window is set in the same kind of setting as those described above and are larger than the windows set into the basement and those on the second floor. The second-floor windows are identical in description to the previously mentioned windows, and the same size as those seen at the basement level, but smaller than those at the first-floor level.
A concrete block of unknown origin is directly to the south of the southernmost second story window. However, a conversation with SHPO during their on-stie visit on 8 November 2023 focused on this area and that of the eave at the north corner of this wall having to do with a removed hip return. Additional research is needed to determine if this area is where a return was removed. Modern utilities are affixed to this section.
Some of the windows on this elevation contain wood infill (Photo 7).[14] Additionally, most of the exterior windows are non-historic with non-historic aluminum storm windows.
An historic chimney extending up approximately four feet occupies the roof of this bay, standing in the southeast corner of this bay.
North Elevation
The north elevation, divided into four bays with one window at each of the three bays from east to west; the westernmost bay has a window, as described above, at the first and second floor and a non-historic door and screen door at the basement level (Photo 3). The quoining effect seen on the south and east elevations exists on this elevation as well.
This elevation’s version of the quoining effect covers the majority of the first floor and part of the second-floor area across all four bays. Each window, like the others on the south and east elevations, have concrete sills and lintels. The second-floor windows are smaller than the first floor and basement windows (which sits below the painted white stone water table), which are the same size.
The roof is broken into three sections. The large central part of the roof of this elevation slopes at about a 45-degree angle toward the north and flattens out slightly before the non-historic eave. To the east and west, are two smaller areas in which the roof slants at about a 60-degree angle to the middle of the second-floor windows.
The historic chimney described above in the east elevation description is seen at this elevation as well. It sits at the corner of the west side of the roof’s large central bay.
The historic water table divides the basement from the upper floors.
West elevation
The west elevation is divided into five sections. There are nine (9) bays on the first level, four on the second, and 8 bays at the basement level. The below description moves from north to south.
First (Northernmost) Section
The northernmost section contains two bays (Photo 4). It is a deeply recessed space containing wood-paneled windows as described above, including the stone sills and lintels in the first and second floors and one below the water table at the basement. A door acting as a second bay is located between the first and second floors on the south side of the first bay. It leads to a fire escape ladder. It contains the quoining. The historic stone water table divides the basement from the upper floors and continues along each section of this elevation.
Second Section
The second section, immediately south of the first section, protrudes west from the northernmost section by about three feet but remains recessed from the central section. It has two bays with the northern bay of this section containing one non-historic one-over-one window per level but with the historic sill and lintel. The window at the basement level has been replaced with a vent for a non-historic air conditioning unit that sits on the ground just outside of the former window.
The second bay of this section, to the north of the other bay, contains two non-historic wood-framed windows with historic stone sills and lintels seen on the other elevations and that are typical for this building. There is one each on the first and second floor. A non-historic single-story, shed-roofed entrance addition like the one on the east elevation (Photo 4) is at the southern corner of this bay where it meets the central bay. Modern utilities are attached to this bay. One former window is covered; it is where the air conditioning pipes enter.
Additionally, the windows on the first floor are contained within the same quoining seen on the other elevations of the building and create a clear border demarking the first and second floors (Photo 4).
The historic stone water table divides the basement from the upper floors.
Third Section
The central section is the largest bay on this elevation. It is the west wall of the sanctuary. No windows appear on the second-floor area since there is no second floor in the sanctuary.
The basement section has two windows, one of which is boarded up and has air conditioning cables running into it. The coal chute door occupies the central bay.
The first-floor section of this elevation has three bays and holds three wood-framed historic stained-glass windows with the concrete sills and lintels seen on the rest of the building. These windows are also contained within the same belt course pattern using color instead of projecting the brickwork, with a color change at the corners seen on other elevations of the building.
Fourth Section
The next section is also part of the sanctuary and has no second-floor windows. Instead, this consists of one bay which is recessed as far back as the northernmost bay of this elevation. The first level holds one historic stained-glass window in the same style as all the others and is within the quoining, but it is not centered as are all other windows. Instead, this window rests against the north edge of this quoining pattern. The basement also has a window matching those of the other basement windows (Photo 4).
Fifth Section (Southernmost)
The southernmost section protrudes from the previous section but extends only as far as the second section described above does. This section is the west elevation of the west tower seen on the south façade. It contains one bay (Photos 4, 7).
There is a small wood-framed one-over-one window (like Figure 17) on the second floor with a ventilation grate substituted for a bottom pane of glass. A stained-glass window is centered within the quoining, with a color change at the corners that is seen on other elevations of the building. The two-sash one-over-one basement windows match the other windows used for the basement.
Roof
The church has a hipped, cross gabled asphalt shingle roof that extends across the entire building. The slope of the roof viewed from the south elevation creating the illusion of the porch being a portico (Photo 1). Gabling is seen throughout the rest of the roof with some being shorter than others. The roof has relatively consistent sloping except for two small areas on the north elevation side of the building (Photo 3). A more detailed discussion of these two sections on the north elevation side is in the above “North Elevation” discussion. The east and west elevation roof designs are seen in Photos 2 and 4.
The two two-story towers have flat roofs with wide eaves. The towers from each side of the façade (Photo 1). The towers were originally parapeted with a blocked and squared-off look for, with an often seen merlon and embrasure pattern (Figure 12).
Three brick chimneys protrude from the roof. Two, a large one and a smaller one, are located on the west elevation side of the building (Photo 4). The smaller chimney sits above the northernmost section of the west elevation, above the first bay. The larger chimney sits over the first sections’ southernmost bay and abuts the central section containing the sanctuary. The third is on the east elevation side (Photo 2). It is situated above the second and third bays of the third (northernmost) section of the elevation.
Jump to Part 2.
Interior of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
The overflow room of the church and the classrooms on both floors are the frame of the original 1890 church (Figure 12) used in the construction of the current church.[15] As noted earlier, the original church was lifted off the foundation, a basement was dug, and the original church was then rotated 90 degrees and set over the basement.[16] Recent measurements indicate the church has not been altered from the measurements discussed in a 1915 Marceline news article and in conjunction with the 1964 layouts (Figures 4-6).[17]
First Floor
Entry Points/Vestibules
When originally opened in 1915, the congregation was able to enter through either door leading from the façade’s portico to get to the sanctuary (Figures 1, 2, 16; Photo 1). There are now three entries into the sanctuary from the outside: Through either of the doors flanking the portico (Photos 1) or the one on the east elevation for those with mobility issues (Photo 2). Both doors flanking the porch enter prayer rooms through which people pass into the Sanctuary (Photos 10-12). The ceiling of these prayer rooms is the access to the second floor of the towers seen in Photo 1. The ceiling panels, when removed, expose a ladder to the second floor of the towers, which have no floor.
Sanctuary
The Sanctuary is a large octagonal domed room with a plaster ceiling painted white. The ceiling detail includes beams with bracket detailing that move from the wood moulding lining in the upper corners of the room toward the center of the dome. These meet in the center of the dome where the dome flattens out. Through a small hole in one of these beams can be seen a wood frame that has been covered in plaster (Figure 19). These beams are decorative and not structural (Figure 19; Photos 7-8). An historic elongated light hangs from the center of the dome over the center pews. Two identical lights hang over the outer pews, respectively. A non-historic florescent light has been attached to the ceiling over the east entryway (Photo 7).
Four lights hang from the ceiling. The lights are over 50 years old but are not the original lighting for the 1915 erection. More research is required to determine when these lights were installed. The Sanctuary is primarily lit by the sun through the stained-glass windows. One non-historic florescent light hangs above the east entry doors (Photo 7).
The metal double doors to the southeast facing from the pulpit lead to the east side entry vestibule. The single metal door leads to the ramp on the east elevation side of the church. The non-historic wooden door to the south (when viewed from the pulpit) (Photo 7) leads to the southwest prayer room seen in Photos 10-11.
The Sanctuary is filled with 22 pews, an organ, a stage for the choir with non-historic seating, and the dais (Photos 7-8). To the left of the east entry is the former west entry, now a prayer room. The windows are all historic stained glass and painted lead glass and are the same windows viewed from the exterior (Figure 14; Photo 14). The pews and the organ pipes are original to the 1915 structure.
Wainscotting wraps around the southern walls of the Sanctuary. Modern speakers are affixed to the top of two walls while a non-historic fan and two lights hang from the ceiling above the choir alcove (Photos 7-9).
The rake of the Sanctuary’s floor moves from southeast to northwest, with the lowest point being where the floor meets the dais (Photos 7-8).
Overflow Room Area
There is a non-historic accordion door separating the overflow room from the Sanctuary. To the east of this accordion door is a doorless entry point to the overflow room .
Circling the overflow room on three sides (which is the frame of the original 1890 Christian Church) are several rooms . Most of these were once classrooms. Each now has a different purpose. More non-original historic lights outline the edges of the overflow room. Unless otherwise stated, all lights are known to be at least 50 years old, but not original.
The historic second story balcony overhang acts as the ceiling for approximately half of the first-floor area (Photo 13). It is a wood base with metal railings. The balcony overlooks the overflow room below . The ceiling of the part of the room not covered by the balcony is the ceiling of the second floor.
Most interior doors are historic . The original flooring is under the carpet. The original flooring has not been altered in any known way since its installation in 1915. The date the carpet was laid over it is unknown.
There are a total of seven rooms off this area and two stairwells—one to the east and one to the west—leading to the second floor, basement and to outside.
When looking north from the accordion door, an office with an historic door is due east (all doors are historic unless noted otherwise) (Figures 4 and 7; Photo13). Next to it in the extreme northeast corner of the floor is a study that is connected to the office through an historic door (Figures 4 and 7); it is used as an overflow room for the office. To the west of the study is the library room (now used for storage) (Figures 4 and 7; Photo 18). To the west of the library room is the Fisherman room (now a classroom) (Figures 4 and 7; Photo 20). To the west of the Fisherman’s room, is the KUM-JOY-NUS room used as a nursery (Figures 4 and 7; Photo 19). An unlabeled bathroom is next to the west staircase (Figures 4 and 7). To the south of the bathroom is an unlabeled room which is being used as a kitchenette (Figures 4 and 7). This room has a smaller room just outside the kitchenette to the south. This room holds the hose/water hookup for the baptismal. The baptismal entry is located outside this room in the southwestern most part of the overflow room. The baptismal is beneath the first floor’s flooring. The baptismal is part of the original design, but not shown on the 1964 floorplans (Figures 4, 7 and 18).
The walls of each room are historic, painted over, plaster.
Second Floor
The second floor maintains the same layout seen in Figures 5 and 8. All rooms remain without any structural changes. All the doors are historic unless otherwise stated.
The second floor only occupies the north one-fourth of the building and overlooks the overflow room on the first floor.
The balcony that skirts the overflow room below is crescent in shape (Photos 13 and 27). No known changes have been made to this balcony.[18]
Six rooms take up this space as well as the two stairwells to the east and west that lead to the first floor, basement and to doors leading outside (Figures 5 and 8; Photos 18-28). One room is named, four have designations and one is unlabeled. Windows are historic in this area (Figure 17).
As seen in Figures 5 and 8, from the east moving north then west, the rooms are: G10 (currently storage) (Photo 28). To the north is G11 (northeast corner of the floor) (Photo 22). G11 connects through a door to the west to the appears to read as “Berean” or “Barman” (Photo 21). This room is used for meetings. To the west of this room is an unlabeled room currently in use as storage (24). Next to this to the west is “G8” (Photo 25) which encompasses the northwest corner of the floor; it is currently a storage room, too. The final room, located south of the west staircase is labeled as “G9” (Photo 23). This is currently a kitchenette with eating area.
The original wood flooring is under the carpet on this floor as well. Aside from being covered has not been altered in since its installation in 1915.[19]
Stairs go down to the first floor and basement on both the east and west elevations (Photo 26).
Most doors and window frames are historic (Figures 16-17).
Basement
The basement dimensions also remain intact. Going down the east stairs from the first-floor overflow room leads to a dining room (Figures 6 and 9; Photo 29) at the north end of the church. No doors in the basement are historic. The ceiling is a non-historic drop ceiling and obscures the upper portion of the non-historic windows; see discussion of infill in “East Elevation: North Bay” section.
There are six (6) support beams covered with modern laminate paneling with a drop ceiling (Photo 29). At the far west side of this section is the kitchen (Photo 29). The kitchen is separated from the dining area (where elementary classes were held according to Figure 5) by a counter with a canopy. To the southwest, of the elementary classroom/dining area and due south of the kitchen are the men’s and women’s bathrooms (labeled “W.T.” (women’s toilet) and “M.T.” (men’s toilet), respectively). To the south of the elementary classroom/dining area is an entry into the rest of the basement (Photo 30). This central room (labeled “Preschool classes on Figure 6) is now used for Sunday School.
To the west of the Preschool Classroom/Sunday School of the classroom area are the burner/furnace room is (Photo 32). The coal room is separated by a hall across from the furnace room (Figures 6 and 9); the coal chute has been removed and replaced with non-historic utilities. To the south of this room is the basement of the west tower (Photo 33); it is currently used as storage. Running along the south wall of the basement and to the east of the south tower basement room is a rectangular room currently used for storage (Figures 6 and 9), and directly east of that is the basement of the east tower (Photos 30-31). It is currently part of the Preschool Classroom. The west section of the Preschool Classroom/Sunday School room is partitioned off (Photo 31). This partition is non-historic and not permanent; no date is known as to when it was installed.
Only standard updating of areas has taken place. All rooms seen in Figure 6 exist. For example, the coal room is now a storage room, and the coal chute has been sealed off (see Photo 4 for external view of boarded over coal chute).[20]
Some of the basement windows have been altered due to the ceiling; as noted earlier in the EXTERIOR discussion, they have wood infill now. The only windows that have not been altered are two on the east side of the building. These were not impacted because a non-historic box was built around them, ensuring that they didn’t need altering or that the ceiling partially blocks them.
Jump to Part 2.
Stained Glass/Painted Leaded Glass
The historic windows found around the sanctuary all contain depictions of Biblical scenes (Figures 13-14 and Photo 14). Each window also contains a leaded glass panel located under the window in which the name of the donor appears. The four sets of three windows of stained-glass and painted leaded glass facing south and located in the porch area are sets of three windows: A transom, them a 6 feet long window, then a donor window. The same set up of four sets of three windows can be seen on the west and east sides.
The uppermost and lowest panes appear to be operable (or at least were—the mechanisms seem to have ceased up over time). The small, lower stained-glass windows identify the persons, business or group that donated the window. The longer, central panels depict various Biblical events and people. Much of the central panels as well as all lettering are painted on.
No maker mark has been located. No records exist giving more details about these windows.
These windows are not solely stained glass. They also contain leaded glass windows which have been painted to give the appearance of stained glass throughout. There are spots on the painted glass where it is flaking off. In other areas, brush strokes can be identified.
The upper and lower panels of these windows were designed to be able to pivot open. It is unknown if they were designed to operate in unison.
INTEGRITY
The earliest layout plans for this nomination are from 1964 (Figures 4-6). However, dimensions and descriptions of the church appear in multiple articles in Marceline newspapers; using these articles as guides shows significant architectural aspects of the church remain largely intact. The Marceline Journal-Mirror, for example, indicated the church will be 90×56, have a front with columns and gables and the “main auditorium will be 44×44 feet”; additionally, it will “have two vestibules opening off the porch in front of the roof of which will be sustained by four steel columns, thirty inches through. A roling [sic] partition will separate the main auditorium from the Sunday School room, 36×50, two stories high in which there will also be seventeen class rooms [sic].”[24] The article further states the “basement will contain the dining room, 35×36 feet, with kitchen, work room, etc. and the furnace room.”[25]
Thus, the historical dimensions of the church are fully intact with the general layout of the property both the interior and exterior maintaining their historical integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association and thusly illustrates “the overall sense of past time and place is evident.”[26] The red brick remains intact.
The external limestone and brick remain unaltered for over 100 years. Each elevation maintains the historical material used to build the nominated property. Most repairs are either cosmetic or due to changes in laws and regulations (such as ADA requirements) and have not significantly altered the general layout of the property. The only significant alteration was the removal of the battlements resting on the towers’ parapets.
Internally, the original organ pipes remain, the ceilings in the nave and overflow room area are historic, while the basement’s ceiling was updated and impacted some of the historic windows. The dimensions of the rooms listed in the Marceline Journal-Mirror and other articles are exact.[27] Figures 4-9 and 15 and 16 also illustrate there has been no significant loss of historical integrity internally or externally and that all the original areas still exist, though some of them have different names now; most of the original plaster walls and ceilings on the first floor remain largely intact with few areas having been re-plastered. Most of the historic windows have been altered or replaced.
The internal and external dimensions match those described in local news articles.
As noted, the building has undergone no structural changes but has been updated with new electrical, lighting, non-historic windows; it also has several over minor alterations such as boarded up basement windows on the west and east elevations, the addition of an ADA compliant ramp, and non-historic doors. The most evident alteration was the removal of the battlements sometime prior to 1964 as indicated in Figure 11; there is no record of when or why they were removed.
The Christian Church of Marceline preserves its prime historical features, such as the columns, porch/portico, and masonry as well as its original dimensions in every way. Each elevation of the church has been virtually unaltered in appearance, updated only for safety and to improve access for those with mobility issues, since the building’s construction by local contractor and architect, A. J. Reynolds, over 100 years ago.
Despite these alterations, in the case of the First Christian Church of Marceline, as noted earlier, “the overall sense of past time and place is evident.”[28] The changes have not diminished its historic integrity as a strong representative of Classical Revival work in churches, because the look and feel of a Classical Revival building remains very evident. Given its style and maintained historical integrity, the Christian Church of Marceline, now known as the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), is locally significant and eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion C: ARCHITECTURE as an excellent example of LATE 19TH and EARLY 20TH CENTURY REVIVALS/Classical Revival.
Jump to Part 2.
[1] No other data has been found regarding this alteration.
[2] The nomination is citing what exists within the current boundaries; however, the parking lot was not part of the
historic boundary.
[3] The church sat on Lots 25-26, but the church owned Lot 24.
[4] Marceline, MO. Sanborn Fire Insurance [Map], 1894.
[5] As yet, no information has been found to determine which direction it was turned. However, a 90-degree turn
means the former façade face either east or west.
[6] Confirmed during 8 November 2023 site visit.
[7] Based on church archival records.
[8] Confirmed by a physical measuring on 17 August 2023.
[9] “Plans Ready for Christian Church.” The Marceline Journal-Mirror. 16 April 1915, XXVII.
[10] This was discovered upon the Missouri SHPO’s 8 November 2023 on-site inspection. Newly peeling paint
exposed the wood.
[11] Visual inspection of the doors by SHPO on 8 November 2023 confirmed that the doors are historic.
[12] Cavanah, Lex. Personal Interview. 8 November 2023.
[13] A more in-depth discussion of the stained-glass windows can be found below in the “Stained Glass/Painted Leaded Glass” subsection.
[14] Missouri SHPO states that they believe that the windows were replaced due to obstructions caused by the drop ceiling installation. As a result, the window openings were filled in with shorter windows could be installed. Only the windows that ended up extended after the ceiling was lowered have the infill. This is a hypothesis because no construction records exist for most of the alterations.
[15] Petska, Beulah. First Christian Church: 1888-1963 (Sixty-Fifth Anniversary). 24 May 1953.
[16] “Linn.” The Chariton Courier. 7 May 1915, p. 6. It is unknown which direction the church was rotated. The
original church’s primary façade, however, will be pointing to the east or west.
[17] “Plans Ready for Christian Church.” The Marceline Journal-Mirror. 16 April 1915, XXVII outlines the many of
the measurements. Measurements physically taken on 17 August 2023, confirm these measurements have not changed.
[18] Church archival records show no changes to the balcony since its completion in 1915.
[19] Cavanaugh.
[20] There are no records of the chute being sealed, but the church, according to Cavanah, transitioned from coal to fuel oil in the 1950s.
[21] See Figures 15 and 16 for a comparison between the church’s original look with the parapets and the current
appearance.
[22] All information regarding alterations came from Cavanah through email or verbally, unless stated otherwise.
[23] Marceline: The Magic City.
[24] “Plans Ready for Christian Church.” The Marceline Journal-Mirror. 16 April 1915, XXVII.
[25] These dimensions remain true in the church and therefore are being used in conjunction with the 1964 footprint
(Figures 4-6) when describing the layout of the church.
[26] National Register Bulletin: How to Complete the National Register Registration Form. U.S. Department of the
Interior National Park Service, Cultural Resources. 1997.
[27] On 8 May 2023, Lex Cavanah, Chair of the Church’s Board measured the areas listed in the various articles and
confirmed that they are accurate, thus indicating that the church’s historical integrity is identical to the original plans of the building.
[28] National Register Bulletin: How to Complete the National Register Registration Form. U.S. Department of the
Interior National Park Service, Cultural Resources. 1997.
